Cutaneous Destombes-Rosai-Dorfman disease: absence of detection of HHV-6 and HHV-8 in skin.
BACKGROUND
We report three new cases of cutaneous Destombes-Rosai-Dorfman disease (DRDD). Two were skin-limited, and one was associated with systemic involvement. In all cases typical large S100 positive macrophages with emperipolesis were present, but different patterns were seen. A viral etiology has long been suspected in DRDD.


METHODS
Thus, all cases were investigated for presence of HHV-6 major capsid protein gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and for presence of HHV-8 latency-associated nuclear antigen 1 by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
All results were negative. HHV-6 antibody tests were positive for IgG but not for IgM in one case. With regard to HHV-6, previous studies supplied inconclusive results while, to our knowledge, HHV-8 has never been investigated in DRDD.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that HHV-8 is not involved in the pathogenesis of cutaneous DRDD. However, this should be confirmed by further studies. We can postulate three hypotheses in regard to HHV-6 role in DRDD pathogenesis: 1) its presence in lesionnal tissues is fortuitous, 2) HHV-6 plays a role in promoting more aggressive diseases and 3) various causes, including HHV-6, are implicated in the pathogenesis of DRDD.
Ortonne
N
N
Department of Pathology, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France.
Fillet
A M
AM
Kosuge
H
H
Bagot
M
M
Frances
C
C
Wechsler
Janine
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015618:Histiocytosis, Sinus / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology