Transmission of Human Herpesvirus 8 Infection from Renal-Transplant Donors to Recipients

Abstract

HHV-8 is transmitted through renal allografts and is a risk factor for transplantation-associated Kaposi's sarcoma.

Comparative Evaluation of Three Serological Methods for Detection of Human Herpesvirus 8-Specific Antibodies in Canadian Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients

“…In contrast, several studies of HHV-8 infection and KS have been reported after renal transplantation (10,11,16,22,27; Frances et al, letter). In two studies from different geographic areas (Switzerland and United States), HHV-8 seroprevalence increased from 5 to 6% before to 16 to 18% within the year after renal transplantation (22,27). Notably, KS is clearly more prevalent in the renal transplant population, approaching 4% of transplants (10,11), indicating that the pathogenesis of HHV-8 infection in the two transplant populations is different, which may be related in part to the shorter period of immunosuppression in SCT recipients.…”

“…Other studies have demonstrated that KS occurred rarely after bone marrow transplantation (21); only one case of KS, possibly transmitted by the donor, has been reported in a French cohort (20). In contrast, several studies of HHV-8 infection and KS have been reported after renal transplantation (10,11,16,22,27; Frances et al, letter). In two studies from different geographic areas (Switzerland and United States), HHV-8 seroprevalence increased from 5 to 6% before to 16 to 18% within the year after renal transplantation (22,27).…”

“…HHV-8 has also been associated with two forms of lymphoproliferative disorders: body cavity-based lymphomas and multicentric Castleman's disease (12,34). Several studies of HHV-8 infections in solid organ (liver, lung, heart, and kidney) transplant recipients have been reported previously (2,3,11,16,18,(22)(23)(24)27; C. Frances, C. Mouquet, and V. Calvez, Letter to the editor, N. Engl. J. Med.…”

“…340:1045-1046, 1999). The development of KS lesions in those patient populations has been shown to be highly correlated with immunosuppressive treatments and might result from HHV-8 transmission by the donors (27). Besides KS, HHV-8 infections in allograft recipients have been associated with cytopenias, splenomegaly, and marrow failure (23).…”

Pulmonary manifestations of human herpesvirus-8 during HIV infection

“…HHV-8 may be transmitted by blood transfusion or organ transplantation [17,18]. In high-prevalence countries, the seroprevalence increases during childhood, which suggests transmission between the mother and child, or sibling or playmate.…”