@article{3094139,
    title = "Human herpesvirus-8 seropositivity and clinical correlations in
HIV-1-positive and highly exposed, persistently HIV-seronegative
individuals in Greece",
    author = "Panayiotakopoulos, GD and Mavroyianni, D and Politou, M and Aroni, K and and Kosmopoulou, O and Kontos, AN and Choremi-Papadopoulou, H and and Pediaditis, J and Kordossis, T",
    journal = "AIDS Patient Care and STDs",
    year = "2005",
    volume = "19",
    number = "6",
    pages = "375-383",
    publisher = "MARY ANN LIEBERT INC PUBL",
    issn = "1087-2914, 1557-7449",
    doi = "10.1089/apc.2005.19.375",
    abstract = "The prevalence of anti-human herpesvirus 8 (HHV- 8) antibodies was
retrospectively assessed in a cohort of 248 consecutive HIV-1-positive
patients followed up in an academic unit in Greece during a 14-year
period and in 46 highly exposed, persistently HIV-seronegative (HEPS)
individuals. The impact of the initial anti-HHV-8 status on tumorgenesis
and mortality was studied. The first available serum sample from the
department’s pool was tested. Demographics and data regarding history of
sexually transmitted diseases, Hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) and
hepatitis C (HCV) status were collected. Patients who developed either
HHV-8-related or non-HHV-8-related neoplasms during long-term follow-up
were also identified. Forty-eight percent of the HIV-1-positive patients
and 56% of the HEPS subjects were found anti-HHV-8-positive. No
difference was observed regarding the development of HHV-8-related or
non-HHV-8-related neoplasia and mortality on grounds of initial
anti-HHV- 8 status. Mortality was positively associated with the
presence of HBsAg. HCV infection showed a trend to be more common in
anti-HHV-8-positive patients. In summary, the seroprevalence of HHV-8
among HIV-1- positive patients is higher than the one reported in the
Western world. The initial anti-HHV-8 status is not a prognostic factor
in HIV-1- positive individuals. The high seroprevalence in HEPS
individuals possibly reflects their risk- prone lifestyle.
HbsAg-positive status is a long- term negative prognostic factor in HIV
infection."
}