TY - JOUR TI - Human herpesvirus 8 infection in hemodialysis patients AU - Zavitsanou, A AU - Sypsa, V AU - Petrodaskalaki, M AU - Psichogiou, M and AU - Katsoulidou, A AU - Boletis, J AU - Hadjiconstantinou, V AU - Karalis, D AU - and Kalapothaki, V AU - Hatzakis, A JO - American Journal of Kidney Diseases PY - 2006 VL - 47 TODO - 1 SP - 167-170 PB - W B SAUNDERS CO-ELSEVIER INC SN - 0272-6386, 1523-6838 TODO - 10.1053/j.ajkd.2005.09.019 TODO - human herpesvirus 8; hemodialysis (HD); cohort; seroconversion; seroreversion TODO - Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) seroprevalence in Greek hemodialysis patients. Patterns of change in HHV-8 serostatus (seroconversions and seroreversions) over time were also evaluated. Methods: Serum samples obtained from a cohort of 485 Greek hemodialysis patients were tested for antibodies to HHV-8 by whole virus lysate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and reactive samples were confirmed by means of the orf-73 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. HHV-8 seroprevalence at study entry and the incidence of seroreversions and seroconversions per 100 person-years were estimated. Results: The prevalence of HHV-8 antibodies in Greek hemodialysis patients at enrollment was 7.2%. No univariate associations were established between HHV-8 serostatus and patients’ characteristics. Incidences of seroreversions and seroconversions were 16.4/100 person-years (95% confidence interval, 7.1 to 32.3) and 0.28/100 person-years (95% confidence interval, 0.03 to 1.02), respectively. Patients 50 years and younger had an increased probability for seroreversion to HHV-8 antibodies than patients older than 50 years (log-rank test, P = 0.018). Conclusion: We observed a fair number of seroreversions and a low incidence of seroconversion to HHV-8 infection in hemodialysis patients in Greece. Our data provide indirect evidence that HHV-8 transmission in the hemodialysis setting is uncommon. ER -