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Abstract

Title: Seroprevalence of Human Herpesvirus 8 among Injection Drug Users in San Francisco.
Author: Atkinson J, Edlin BR, Engels EA, Kral AH, Seal K, Gamache CJ, Whitby D, O'Brien TR
Journal: J Infect Dis 187(6):974-981
Year: 2003
Month: March

Abstract: The association between injection drug use and human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) was examined to investigate bloodborne transmission of the virus. In all, 1905 injection drug users (IDUs) enrolled in a cross-sectional study were tested for K8.1 antibodies to HHV-8 lytic antigen. Logistic regression was used to adjust for demographic and sexual behavior variables. HHV-8 seroprevalence was 10% among women, 10% among heterosexual men, and 23% among men who have sex with men. In adjusted analyses, HHV-8 seroprevalence increased with longer duration of injection drug use for each of these groups (P=.01, P=.03, and P=.049 for trend, respectively). HHV-8 infection is relatively common among IDUs in San Francisco, and longer duration of injection drug use is associated with an increase in the risk of HHV-8 infection that is not explained by sexual behavior or demographic differences. These results are consistent with the occurrence of bloodborne transmission of HHV-8 among IDUs.