Rm. Greenblatt et al., Human herpesvirus 8 infection and Kaposi's sarcoma among human immunodeficiency virus-infected and -uninfected women, J INFEC DIS, 183(7), 2001, pp. 1130-1134
Little is known about the epidemiology of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV- 8) infe
ctions among women. A cross- sectional study was conducted of HHV- 8 infect
ion among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)- infected and high- risk HIV-
uninfected women. Serological tests with noninduced (latent) and induced (l
ytic) HHV- 8 antigens were used to detect infection among 2483 participants
of a multisite cohort. Reactivity to latent antigen was present in 4.1% an
d to induced antigens in 12.0% of women. Seven of 8 women who reported Kapo
si's sarcoma had HHV- 8 antibodies. Among HIV- positive women, HHV- 8 infec
tion was associated with use of crack, cocaine, or heroin (76% vs. 65%; P <
.001), past syphilis (29% vs. 20%; P < .001), an injection drug-using male
sex partner (61% vs. 53%; P = .014), black race (P = .010), and enrollment
site (P = .015). In multivariate analysis, HIV infection, older age, past
syphilis, black race, and enrollment site were independently associated wit
h HHV- 8 infection. In this cohort of North American women, HHV- 8 infectio
n was associated with HIV infection, drug use, and risky sexual behavior.