title: Remission of HHV-8 and HIV-associated multicentric Castleman disease with ganciclovir treatment.
abstract: Multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) is a lymphoproliferative disorder associated with human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection among persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Treatment often includes chemotherapy, and progression to non-Hodgkin lymphoma frequently occurs. MCD is characterized in part by active HHV-8 replication, and many of the symptoms of MCD may be attributable to viral gene products. We describe the effect of ganciclovir on the clinical and virologic course of MCD in a series of 3 case reports. Two patients experienced a reduction in the frequency of episodic flares of MCD and detectable HHV-8 DNA with intravenous or oral ganciclovir, whereas the third patient recovered from an acute episode of renal and respiratory failure with intravenous ganciclovir therapy. These data provide in vivo evidence for the utility of antiviral agents against HHV-8 in the management of MCD.
authors: Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, USA. ccasper@u.washington.edu
authors: Corey
authors: C
authors: Casper
authors: W Garrett
authors: WG
authors: Nichols
authors: Meei-Li
authors: ML
authors: Huang
authors: Lawrence
authors: L
authors: Corey
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Wald
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005871:Castleman Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006678:HIV / Q000378:metabolism*; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D015774:Ganciclovir