RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Human herpesvirus type 8 in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP PA3655 DO 10.1183/13993003.congress-2015.PA3655 VO 46 IS suppl 59 A1 Cheng-Chuan Su A1 Shih-Ming Tsao A1 Chun-Liang Lai A1 Ming-Nan Lin A1 Jen-Pi Tsai YR 2015 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/46/suppl_59/PA3655.abstract AB Background: Seroprevalence of human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8) is high in patients with various immunologic abnormalities. Patients with chronic pulmonary disease (COPD) are immunocompromised, but the prevalence of HHV-8 in COPD patientsremains unclear.Aims and objectives: To compare HHV-8 seroprevalence in COPD patients and healthy controls.Methods: Blood samples collected from 64 COPD patients and 64 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were used to determine hemogram, HHV-8 antibody level, and HHV-8 DNA level.Results: COPD patients had a significantly lower lymphocyte count and a higher monocyte count than the healthy controls (P = 0.0006 and 0.0003, respectively). The seroprevalence of HHV-8 antibodies was moderately higher in COPD patients than in controls (37.5% vs. 26.6%, P = 0.18). Three patients positive for HHV-8 antibodies (1:40, 1:160, and 1:640) were also positive for HHV-8 DNA (2,090, 133, and 1,450 copies/mL, respectively). Lymphocyte counts were significantly higher in COPD patients positive for HHV-8 antibodies than in negatives (1,609±925/mL vs. 1,106±548/mL, P = 0.014; t test) and in COPD patients positive for HHV-8 DNA than in negatives (2,576±786/mL vs. 1,448±861/mL, P = 0.048; t test). Furthermore, lymphocyte count increased (from 1,688 to 2,856 and 3,184 cells/mL) with increasing HHV-8 viral load (from 133 to 1,450 and 2,090 copies/mL).Conclusions: HHV-8 seroprevalence is moderately higher in COPD patients than in healthy controls, and lymphocyte count is significantly higher in COPD patients positive for HHV-8 antibodies or HHV-8 DNA than in negatives. Lymphocyte count increases with increase in HHV-8 viral load in patients positive for HHV-8 DNA.