Progressive HHV-8-positive classic Kaposi's sarcoma: rapid response to interferon alpha-2a but persistence of HHV-8 DNA sequences in lesional skin.
The pathogenesis of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is often attributed to an infectious agent. In particular, the human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) was currently shown to be closely related to all known KS types, including HIV-associated KS, European classic KS, African endemic KS and iatrogenic KS. We report here on an HIV-negative, German patient of neither Jewish nor Mediterranean descent with disseminated classic KS showing unusual rapid progression into the tumour stage. After systemic administration of interferon alpha-2a over 4 weeks all tumour lesions cleared completely. Interestingly, HHV-8 DNA sequences detected by nested polymerase chain reaction in KS lesions before the onset of treatment were still present in lesional skin after complete remission of the tumour. No recurrence was seen after a follow-up period of 6 months.
Department of Dermatology, University Medical Centre Benjamin Franklin, The Free University of Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, D-12200 Berlin, Germany.
C
C
Pfrommer
B
B
Tebbe
C A
CA
Tidona
U
U
Wölfer
S
S
Krengel
H
H
Zeichardt
C C
CC
Zouboulis
C E
CE
Orfanos
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins