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Background Whether human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) is transmissible by blood transfusion remains undetermined. We evaluated the risk of HHV-8 transmission by blood transfusion in Uganda, where HHV-8 is endemic.
Methods We enrolled patients in Kampala, Uganda, who had received blood transfusions between December 2000 and October 2001. Pretransfusion and multiple post-transfusion blood specimens from up to nine visits over a 6-month period were tested for HHV-8 antibody. We calculated the excess risk of seroconversion over time among recipients of HHV-8–seropositive blood as compared with recipients of seronegative blood.
Results Of the 1811 transfusion recipients enrolled, 991 were HHV-8–seronegative before transfusion and completed the requisite follow-up, 43% of whom received HHV-8–seropositive blood and 57% of whom received seronegative blood. HHV-8 seroconversion occurred in 41 of the 991 recipients. The risk of seroconversion was significantly higher among recipients of HHV-8–seropositive blood than among recipients of seronegative blood (excess risk, 2.8%; P<0.05), and the increase in risk was seen mainly among patients in whom seroconversion occurred 3 to 10 weeks after transfusion (excess risk, 2.7%; P=0.005), a result consistent with the transmission of the virus by transfusion. Blood units stored for up to 4 days were more often associated with seroconversion than those stored for more than 4 days (excess risk, 4.2%; P<0.05).
Conclusions This study provides strong evidence that HHV-8 is transmitted by blood transfusion. The risk may be diminished as the period of blood storage increases.
Source Information
From the Global Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Program, National Center for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and Tuberculosis Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Entebbe, Uganda (W.H., J.M., R.D., F.B.), and Atlanta (T.J.D.); the Division of Viral Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases (S.C.D., A.L.F., M.M.A.), and the Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (E.M.L.), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta; Mulago Hospital (E.N.) and Nakasero Blood Bank (P.K.) — both in Kampala, Uganda; and the Department of Molecular Genetics, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland (P.E.P.).
Address reprint requests to Dr. Dollard at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mailstop G-18, 1600 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30333, or at sgd5{at}cdc.gov.
Related Letters:
Transmission of Human Herpesvirus 8 by Blood Transfusion
Parisi S. G., Cruciani M., Palù G., Moore P. S., Chang Y., Jaffe H. W., Black H. J., Johnston A. M., Dollard S., Pellett P., Hladik W., Blajchman M. A., Vamvakas E. C.
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N Engl J Med 2007;
356:87-89, Jan 4, 2007.
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