ABSTRACT
A follow-up study of 1844 renal transplant patients in Italy showed a 113-fold increased risk for Kaposi's sarcoma. Kaposi's sarcoma risk was higher in persons born in southern than in northern Italy. Significant increases were also observed for cancers of the lip, liver, kidney and for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Subject(s)
Kidney Transplantation/adverse effects , Neoplasms/epidemiology , Sarcoma, Kaposi/epidemiology , Adult , Age Factors , Humans , Italy/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Risk , Sex FactorsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To determine whether the incidence of HHV-8/KSHV infection and the risk of developing KS among organ transplant recipients differ by type of organ transplanted, we calculated the rate of HHV-8/KSHV seroconversion and the risk of developing KS among renal and liver transplant recipients. METHODS: The study population consisted of renal and liver transplant recipients recruited in two transplant centres in Rome, Italy. Both pre-transplant and post-transplant serum samples were available for all participants. The prevalence of HHV-8/KSHV infection before transplantation was calculated. To determine risk factors for infection, we calculated ORs and 95% CI. Seroconversion rates (i.e. attack rates) after transplantation were also calculated. Differences in attack rates were calculated using a binomial test for proportions. RESULTS: Of the 130 participants, 21 (16.1%) were HHV-8/KSHV-positive before transplantation. Women were more likely to be infected than men, whereas no difference was observed by type of organ transplanted. Of the 109 initially negative individuals, 13 (11.9%) developed anti-HHV-8/KSHV antibodies after transplantation. The incidence of HHV-8/KSHV infection tended to be higher among liver transplant recipients. Four renal transplant recipients and none of the liver transplant recipients developed KS after transplantation. The risk of KS was higher among recipients who were already HHV-8/KSHV-positive before transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: HHV-8/KSHV seroconversion rates appear to be higher among liver transplant recipients, compared to renal transplant recipients. However, renal transplant recipients tend to have a higher risk of KS. HHV-8/KSHV reactivation appears to play a greater role on the risk of KS than incident infections.
Subject(s)
Herpesviridae Infections/virology , Herpesvirus 8, Human , Kidney Transplantation , Liver Transplantation , Sarcoma, Kaposi/virology , Adolescent , Adult , Antibodies, Viral/blood , Female , Herpesviridae Infections/epidemiology , Humans , Incidence , Italy/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Sarcoma, Kaposi/epidemiology , Serologic TestsSubject(s)
Kidney Transplantation/physiology , Ubiquinone/analysis , Vitamin E/analysis , Antibodies, Monoclonal/therapeutic use , Azathioprine/therapeutic use , Biopsy, Needle , Cyclosporins/therapeutic use , Drug Therapy, Combination , HLA-DR Antigens/analysis , Histocompatibility Testing , Humans , Immunosuppression Therapy , Kidney Transplantation/immunology , Kidney Transplantation/pathology , Organ Preservation , Prednisolone/therapeutic useSubject(s)
Biomarkers/urine , Biopterins/analogs & derivatives , Cyclosporins/adverse effects , Graft Rejection , Kidney Transplantation/physiology , Biopsy, Needle , Biopterins/urine , Creatinine/blood , Cyclosporins/therapeutic use , Humans , Kidney Function Tests , Kidney Transplantation/immunology , Kidney Transplantation/pathology , NeopterinABSTRACT
Evaluation of T lymphocyte subpopulations was performed on peripheral blood of patients affected by idiopathic or associated autoimmune haemolytic anaemia. A marked reduction of absolute number of T gamma and T mu cells was observed in 11 of 16 patients; a decrease of both OKT4+ and OKT8+ cells was found in 8 of 10 patients. Circulating cytotoxic antibodies against autologous and allogenic T lymphocytes and/or thymocytes were found in almost all the cases. T lymphocyte subsets depletion, probably connected to antibodies against T lymphocytes and their thymic precursors, could play a role in autoimmunity because of T3+/T4+ cell depletion.
