Seroprevalence of human herpesvirus 8 among injection drug users in San Francisco

J Infect Dis. 2003 Mar 15;187(6):974-81. doi: 10.1086/368332. Epub 2003 Mar 6.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Demography
  • Disease Transmission, Infectious
  • Female
  • Herpesviridae Infections / epidemiology*
  • Herpesviridae Infections / etiology
  • Herpesviridae Infections / transmission
  • Herpesvirus 8, Human / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Risk Factors
  • San Francisco / epidemiology
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Sexuality
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / blood
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / complications
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / epidemiology*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral