HUMAN HERPES VIRUS-8 AND OTHER RISK FACTORS FOR KAPOSI'S SARCOMA IN KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS1

Abstract

African and Middle East geographic origins, HHV-8 infection before and after kidney transplantation, and initial use of polyclonal antilymphocyte sera were independent risk factors for KS. The presence of HHV-8 antibodies before or after transplantation was highly predictive of the emergence of posttransplantation KS and conferred a 28-fold increased risk of KS (odds ratio=28.4; 95% confidence interval: 4.9-279). Detection of HHV-8 DNA within PBMC and KS lesions seems related to tumor burden and evolution.