International survey of human herpes virus 8 screening and management in solid organ transplantation
Alessandra Mularoni1, Malgorzata Mikulska2, Maddalena Giannella3
1Unit of Infectious Diseases, IRCCS-ISMETT (Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Specialized Therapies), Palermo, Italy.
Background:
HHV-8/Kaposi Sarcoma herpesvirus has been associated with a broad spectrum of diseases in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. Primary donor-derived infection can be associated with severe and rapidly fatal non-neoplastic disease, and diagnosis is made with high HHV-8 DNAemia.
Methods:
We carried out an international survey to investigate the current approach to HHV-8 screening, and management in SOT since a protocol has not been established by international guidelines.
Results:
A total of 51 transplant centers from 15 countries filled out the survey. HHV-8-associated diseases in SOT have been diagnosed during the previous 5 years in 67% of centers. Pretransplant serological screening is performed in 17 centers (33%), and posttransplant HHV-8 nucleic acid testing (NAT) monitoring is performed in 21 centers (41%). Performing HHV-8 NAT monitoring and serological screening were found associated with having diagnosed in the previous 5 years a non-malignant HHV-8-associated disease.
Conclusions:
Serological pretransplant screening of donors and recipients and post-transplant HHV-8 NAT monitoring recommendations should be standardized. Even though serological assays are not optimal, they could contribute to increasing knowledge on epidemiology and management of HHV-8-associated diseases after SOT.
