Human herpesvirus type 8 in patients with cirrhosis independent of thrombocytopenia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

High seroprevalence of human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8) in patients with cirrhosis has been reported to be associated with thrombocytopenia. Severe cirrhosis is always complicated with ascites. HHV-8 DNA levels in effusion from patients with primary effusion lymphoma has been reported to be significantly greater than in blood. The status of HHV-8 antibody and DNA in cirrhotic ascites is unclear.

AIMS:

To assess the status of HHV-8 antibody and DNA in cirrhotic ascites compared to that in cirrhotic plasma.

METHODS:

Plasma and ascites samples were collected from 85 patients with cirrhosis. HHV-8 antibody and DNA were detected by immunofluorescence assay and PCR, respectively.

RESULTS:

Male patients seropositive for HHV-8 antibody were significantly younger than seropositive female patients (p=0.0039). The seropositive rate in patients with cirrhosis was not associated with thrombocytopenia (p=0.6860). Both positive rate and titres of antibody in plasma were much greater than in ascites (p<0.0001). More male or Child-Pugh class C than female or class B seropositive patients were positive for ascites. No hepatitis C virus-related ascites were positive for antibody. Neither plasma nor ascites samples from any subject were positive for HHV-8 DNA.

CONCLUSIONS:

In patients with cirrhosis, the seropositive rate for HHV-8 antibody is independent of thrombocytopenia. The positive rate for HHV-8 antibody in cirrhotic ascites seems to be associated with sex, disease severity and disease aetiology.

• Authors: A-L Chou, W-W Huang, M-N Lin, C-C Su
• Journal: Journal of clinical pathology (J Clin Pathol) Vol. 63 Issue 3 Pg. 254-8 (Mar 2010) ISSN: 1472-4146 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 20203226 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Viral
• DNA, Viral

Topics

• Adult
• Age Factors
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antibodies, Viral (analysis, blood)
• Ascites (virology)
• Blood Cell Count
• DNA, Viral (analysis, blood)
• Female
• Herpesviridae Infections (complications, virology)
• Herpesvirus 8, Human (genetics, immunology, isolation & purification)
• Humans
• Liver Cirrhosis (complications, virology)
• Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic (complications, virology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Polymerase Chain Reaction (methods)
• Sex Factors
• Thrombocytopenia (complications, virology)