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Do fewer cases of Kaposi’s sarcoma in HIV-infected patients reflect a decrease in HHV8 seroprevalence?

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Abstract

Infection with human herpes virus 8 (HHV8) is associated with development of Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS); therefore also known as KS-associated herpes virus. KS is closely associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and consequently HHV8 seroprevalence is higher in HIV-infected compared to HIV-negative patients. Currently, KS is rarely seen in clinical practice, which might be a consequence of an optimized anti-HIV treatment leading to an improved immunological status, or alternatively of a decrease in HHV8 prevalence. To determine the prevalence of HHV8 antibodies in HIV-positive compared to HIV-negative patients from the University Hospital Frankfurt/Main, Germany, and to compare our results with previously published data to illustrate trends in the spread of infection. Hundred serum samples each of HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients were analyzed for HHV8 antibodies by using an IgG immunofluorescence test. The overall HHV8 seroprevalence was 16% with no statistically significant gender-specific differences; however, the distribution between the HIV-infected patients and the HIV-negative control group was significantly different (30 and 2%, respectively). The highest rate of seroprevalence in HIV-infected patients was detected at the age of 40–49 (42%) and the lowest rate at the age of 20–29 years (16.6%). In comparison with formerly conducted studies, our data clearly showed an increase in the HHV8 seroprevalence in HIV-infected patients, both in men and women. Therefore, we conclude that the low rate of clinical KS is associated with an improved immunological status due to an optimized anti-HIV therapy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Medical Virology, JW Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Paul-Ehrlich-Straße 40, 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Claudia Reinheimer, Regina Allwinn & Martin Stürmer

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  1. Claudia Reinheimer
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  2. Regina Allwinn
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  3. Martin Stürmer
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Correspondence to Claudia Reinheimer.

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Reinheimer, C., Allwinn, R. & Stürmer, M. Do fewer cases of Kaposi’s sarcoma in HIV-infected patients reflect a decrease in HHV8 seroprevalence?. Med Microbiol Immunol 200, 161–164 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00430-011-0187-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00430-011-0187-0

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