Lack of serologic association of human herpesvirus-8 (KSHV) in patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance with and without progression to multiple myeloma.
Because human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) DNA has been found in multiple myeloma (MM) patients by polymerase chain reaction, it was suggested that HHV-8 may play a role in the transformation of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) to MM. Therefore, 362 MGUS sera with and without progression to MM were tested for IgG antibody to HHV-8. Only 7.8% of the MGUS sera contained HHV-8 antibody to lytic proteins, and IgG antibody to HHV-8 latent antigen was even lower than lytic antibody (2.9%). No differences were observed in the distribution of antibody to HHV-8 in sera from MGUS patients who progressed to MM. The seroprevalences of HHV-8 in MGUS (7.8%), MM (5.4%), and healthy donors (5.9%) were similar, thus arguing for the lack of epidemiologic evidence of HHV-8 participation in the pathogenesis of MM. MGUS patients were immune competent in response to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection because 97% contained antibody to EBV virus capsid antigen.
Ablashi
D V
DV
Advanced Biotechnologies Inc, Columbia, MD 21046-2701, USA. dablashi@abionline.com
Chatlynne
L
L
Thomas
D
D
Bourboulia
D
D
Rettig
M B
MB
Vescio
R A
RA
Viza
D
D
Gill
P
P
Kyle
R A
RA
Berenson
J R
JR
Whitman
J E
JE
D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human; D006801:Humans; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*