This study will investigate patterns of Kaposi's sarcoma herpes virus (KSHV) in the United States and its potential impact on the U.S. population. KSHV is a newly discovered virus that is strongly associated with Kaposi's sarcoma and primary effusion lymphoma. The high prevalence of KS and KSHV among HIV-infected homosexual men suggests sexual contact as a primary mode of transmission. Reports of non-sexual transmission in parts of Africa and the Mediterranean where Kaposi's sarcoma is endemic, and the identification of viral DNA in saliva and other bodily fluids, however, indicate the virus is also transmitted non-sexually. This study will:

- Compare the prevalence of KSHV among different demographic groups in the United States

- Examine the association between KSHV and high risk behaviors such as drug use (marijuana and cocaine), sexual behavior (age at first sexual intercourse and number of sexual partners), and medical risk factors (herpes simplex virus II, hepatitis B and hepatitis C)

- Estimate the prevalence of KSHV in the United States.

Data and blood samples for the study will be taken from the NHANES III survey. NHANES is a program of periodic surveys conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. The survey is designed to provide national estimates of health status for the United States non-institutionalized civilian population by means of household interviews, standardized physical examinations, and blood sample collection and testing. NHANES III-the seventh in a series of national examination studies-was conducted from 1988 to 1994.

This study will use the HANES data to identify risks associated with a KSHV-positive blood test in the survey population. The study plans to include all 19,754 participants (67% of the 29,314 participants originally examined) for whom blood samples were collected and remain available.

Condition
Kaposi's Sarcoma Herpesviridae Infection

Further Study Details: 

Expected Total Enrollment:  20169

The primary mission of the Viral Epidemiology Branch is to investigate the role of viruses and other infectious agents in the etiology of human cancer. Data from national and international sources are used to generate hypotheses regarding cancer etiology with an emphasis on patterns suggesting an infectious process. One major focus of VEB research is Kaposi's Sarcoma Herpes Virus (KSHV or human herpesvirus type 8), a newly discovered virus that is strongly associated with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and primary effusion lymphoma. A high prevalence of KS and KSHV among HIV-infected homosexual men in the US and other Northern European countries suggest the primary mode of transmission for the virus is sexual. However, non-sexual transmission has been reported in KS endemic areas such as parts of Africa and the Mediterranean, and KSHV DNA has been identified in saliva and other bodily fluids. These reports suggest non-sexual transmission of the virus must occur. To further investigate patterns of KSHV infection in the US and its potential impact on the US population we propose to use data and sera from a population-based survey to: 1) examine the association between KSHV seropositivity and selected sociodemographic characteristics and medical risk factors, and 2) estimate the seroprevalence of KSHV in the US population.

Genders Eligible for Study:  Both

Criteria

No specific eligibility criteria was provided for this protocol.

Maryland
      National Cancer Institute (NCI), 9000 Rockville Pike,  Bethesda,  Maryland,  20892,  United States

Study ID Numbers:  010073; 01-C-0073
Record last reviewed:  October 27, 2004
Last Updated:  January 4, 2005
Record first received:  November 14, 2001
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:  NCT00026728
Health Authority: United States: Federal Government
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on 2005-04-08