The high seroprevalence of human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8) in moderate or severe cirrhotics appears to be associated with male sex, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, alcoholism, and disease severity. The status of HHV-8 infection in mild cirrhotics remains unclear. Plasma samples collected from 93 mild cirrhotics and 93 age and sex-matched healthy controls were analyzed for HHV-8 antibodies and HHV-8 DNA. Mild cirrhotics had higher seropositivity for HHV-8 antibodies than healthy controls (P=0.0001). Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that an age ≥55 years (odds ratio [OR] 2.88, P=0.02), hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (OR 3.42, P=0.01), and hepatitis activity (OR 4.10, P=0.004) were associated with KSHV seropositivity in mild cirrhotics. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that age ≥55 years (adjusted OR [aOR] 1.92, P=0.04) and hepatitis activity (aOR 3.55, P=0.005) were independent factors. The rate of hepatitis activity was higher in HCV-infected than in HBVinfected patients (P<0.0001) and in women than in men (P=0.0001). Mild cirrhotics who were seropositive for HHV-8 or HCV or had hepatitis activity were significantly older (P=0.02, <0.0001, and <0.0001, respectively). Plasma samples from all participants were negative for HHV-8 DNA. HHV-8 antibody titers in mild cirrhotics also markedly exceeded those in controls (P<0.0001), as did those in patients ≥55 years old vs. younger patients (P=0.01), those in patients with vs. without HCV-infection (P=0.0008), and those in patients with vs. without hepatitis activity (P=0.0005). Mild cirrhotics had high HHV-8 seroprevalence and HCV infection, and, in particular, old age and hepatitis activity were predictors.

Biography:
Dr. Cheng-Chuan Su completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at the age of 31 years and in Clinical Pathology two years later; and obtained the Master degree from the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan when he aged 32 years. At present, he is the Medical Director of Department of Clinical Pathology, Attending Physician of Department of Anatomic Pathology, Buddhist Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, and Professor of Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Tzu Chi University, Taiwan. He has published more than 40 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of repute.