02291nas a2200253   4500008003900000245006100039210006100100260000800161490000800169520163200177100001401809700001601823700001401839700001601853700001501869700001301884700001401897700001301911700001501924700001601939700001601955700001701971856004901988       2006                          d00aTransmission of human herpesvirus 8 by blood transfusion0 aTransmission of human herpesvirus 8 by blood transfusion  cSep0 v3553 aBACKGROUND:  Whether human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) is transmissible by blood transfusion remains undetermined. We evaluated the risk of HHV-8 transmission by blood transfusion in Uganda, where HHV-8 is endemic. METHODS:  We enrolled patients in Kampala, Uganda, who had received blood transfusions between December 2000 and October 2001. Pretransfusion and multiple post-transfusion blood specimens from up to nine visits over a 6-month period were tested for HHV-8 antibody. We calculated the excess risk of seroconversion over time among recipients of HHV-8-seropositive blood as compared with recipients of seronegative blood. RESULTS:  Of the 1811 transfusion recipients enrolled, 991 were HHV-8-seronegative before transfusion and completed the requisite follow-up, 43% of whom received HHV-8-seropositive blood and 57% of whom received seronegative blood. HHV-8 seroconversion occurred in 41 of the 991 recipients. The risk of seroconversion was significantly higher among recipients of HHV-8-seropositive blood than among recipients of seronegative blood (excess risk, 2.8%; P<0.05), and the increase in risk was seen mainly among patients in whom seroconversion occurred 3 to 10 weeks after transfusion (excess risk, 2.7%; P=0.005), a result consistent with the transmission of the virus by transfusion. Blood units stored for up to 4 days were more often associated with seroconversion than those stored for more than 4 days (excess risk, 4.2%; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:  This study provides strong evidence that HHV-8 is transmitted by blood transfusion. The risk may be diminished as the period of blood storage increases.1 aHladik, W1 aDollard, SC1 aMermin, J1 aFowlkes, AL1 aDowning, R1 aAmin, MM1 aBanage, F1 aNzaro, E1 aKataaha, P1 aDondero, TJ1 aPellett, PE1 aLackritz, EM  uhttps://www.notifylibrary.org/reference/4796