Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Reuters NewMedia - Wednesday November 8, 2000
The findings in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine are especially significant for people who have AIDS .
In healthy people, human herpesvirus 8 or HHV-8 generally does not cause illness. But when those infected with AIDS also contract HHV-8, they have an increased chance of getting the cancer known as Kaposi's sarcoma, a malignant tumor usually of the skin.
Doctors had already known that HHV-8 is found in 11 percent to 20 percent of otherwise healthy gay men. Among men infected with the HIV virus , the rate ranges from 30 percent to 54 percent.
The study was an attempt to determine how HHV-8 passed between men and found that men who kissed a partner infected with the AIDS virus and HHV-8 were five times more likely than other men to become infected with HHV-8. Kissing is not generally considered a high-risk behavior for passing sexually transmitted diseases.
"Our findings suggest that safer sex practices, such as consistent use of condoms, although important in preventing other sexually transmitted infections, may not protect against HHV-8 infection," said the researchers lead by Dr. John Pauk.
"Our latest results indicate that the oral cavity is an important, if not the preeminent, source of infectious virus," they said.
In an accompanying editorial, Dr. Patrick Moore of Columbia University in New York, said "the acquisition of the virus through exposure to saliva may account for the high rates of infection in parts of Africa, where rates exceed 70 percent."
001108
RE001109
Copyright © 2000 - Reuters, Ltd. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Contact Reuters.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2000. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2000. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .