Human herpesvirus type 8 infections among solid organ transplant recipients.
Human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) is known to be associated with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) and a form of Castleman's disease. Recently, it has also been shown to be associated with acute bone marrow failure in transplant patients. While, the full spectrum of clinical manifestations due to HHV-8 is yet to be defined in transplant recipients, it is known to cause post-transplant KS as a result of primary as well as secondary infection. This review will discuss the possible role of HHV-8 as a cause of disease in solid organ transplant recipients by focussing on important issues, including the biology of the virus, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, laboratory diagnosis and treatment, followed by a discussion of issues of relevance to the pediatric transplant recipient.
Allen
Upton D
UD
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Canada. Upton.allen@sickkids.on.ca
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000209:etiology; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human; D006801:Humans; D016377:Organ Transplantation; D010372:Pediatrics; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000821:virology*
D000998:Antiviral Agents