Seroprevalence of HHV8 Among Donors and Recipients with HIV

P. H. Nambiar¹, T. Liang², J. D. Motter³, W. Werbel³, S. Mehta⁴, V. Kirchner⁵, M. Rana⁶, S. Florman⁷, J. Odim⁸, W. Miley⁹, N. Labo⁹, D. Whitby⁹, A. Massie¹⁰, D. Segev³, A. Tobian³, C. Durand²

¹Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, ²Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, ³Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, ⁴New York University Langone Transplant Institute, New York, NY, ⁵University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, ⁶Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, ⁷Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY, ⁸National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, ⁹National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, ¹⁰Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD

Meeting: 2022 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: 58

Keywords: HIV virus, Infection, Kidney/liver transplantation, Malignancy

Topic: Clinical Science » Infection Disease » 24 - All Infections (Excluding Kidney & Viral Hepatitis)

Session Information

Session Name: Cytomegalovirus and other Herpes Viruses

Session Type: Rapid Fire Oral Abstract

Date: Sunday, June 5, 2022

Session Time: 3:30pm-5:00pm

Presentation Time: 4:50pm-5:00pm

Location: Hynes Ballroom B

*Purpose: Kaposi sarcoma (KS) can develop post-transplant via recipient HHV8 reactivation or donor-acquired HHV8. In the general US population, HHV8 seroprevalence is low (1-5%), yet donors and recipients with HIV may have higher HHV8 seroprevalence and increased post-transplant KS risk. Our objective was to understand HHV8 seroprevalence in donors and recipients with HIV.

*Methods: Within the HOPE in Action Multicenter study of HIV-to-HIV transplantation, we measured HHV8 seroprevalence in kidney and liver recipients with HIV and in donors with HIV (D+) or false positive HIV tests (FP). Pre-transplant samples were tested for IgG antibodies to HHV8 latent protein ORF73 and lytic protein K8.1 by ELISA; seropositivity was defined as either positive. We compared characteristics of donors by HIV status (D+ vs FP). We performed multivariable logistic regression to identify donor and recipient factors independently associated with HHV8 seropositivity.

*Results: We tested 85 HIV+ recipients (kidney=54, liver=26, simultaneous liver-kidney=5). HHV8 seroprevalence was 38%. HHV8 seropositivity was independently associated with male sex (OR=_1.513.6₁₂₁,p=0.02) and being a man who has sex with men (MSM) (OR=_1.34.2_13.5,p=0.01). We tested 178 donors: 129 D+, 49 FP; HHV8 seroprevalence was 28% and 6%, respectively. Compared to FP, HIV D+ were more likely older (41y vs 34y,p<0.001), CMV positive (78% vs 61%,p<0.001), and HBV core antibody positive (20% vs 0%,p<0.001). Donor HHV8 seropositivity was independently associated with male sex (OR=_1.18.9₇₃,p=0.04), MSM (OR=_1.23.3_9.1,p=0.02) and HBV core antibody positive (OR=_1.53.8_9.8,p=0.006).

*Conclusions: Within a national study of kidney and liver recipients and donors with HIV, HHV8 seropositivity was substantially higher than has been described in the general population, particularly in males and MSM. HHV8 screening in this population may be warranted to inform post-transplant KS risk and monitoring practices.

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Nambiar PH, Liang T, Motter JD, Werbel W, Mehta S, Kirchner V, Rana M, Florman S, Odim J, Miley W, Labo N, Whitby D, Massie A, Segev D, Tobian A, Durand C. Seroprevalence of HHV8 Among Donors and Recipients with HIV [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2022; 22 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/seroprevalence-of-hhv8-among-donors-and-recipients-with-hiv/. Accessed April 28, 2025.

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