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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Transmission of human herpesvirus 8 by blood transfusion
New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 355, No. 13, Year 2006
Notification
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Description
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. Copyright © 2006 Massachusetts Medical Society.
Authors & Co-Authors
Hladik, Wolfgang
United States, Atlanta
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Dollard, Sheila C.
United States, Atlanta
National Center for Infectious Diseases
United States, Atlanta
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Mermin, Jonathan H.
United States, Atlanta
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Fowlkes, Ashley L.
United States, Atlanta
National Center for Infectious Diseases
Downing, Robert G.
United States, Atlanta
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Amin, Minal M.
United States, Atlanta
National Center for Infectious Diseases
Banage, Flora
United States, Atlanta
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Nzaro, Esau
Uganda, Kampala
Mulago Hospital
Kataaha, Peter K.
Uganda, Kampala
Nakasero Blood Bank
Dondero, Timothy J.
Unknown Affiliation
Pellett, Philip E.
United States, Cleveland
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Lackritz, Eve M.
United States, Atlanta
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Statistics
Citations: 106
Authors: 12
Affiliations: 6
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1056/NEJMoa055009
ISSN:
00284793
e-ISSN:
15334406
Study Design
Cohort Study
Study Locations
Uganda