title: Lymphotropic herpes virus (EBV, HHV-6, HHV-8) DNA sequences in HIV negative Castleman's disease.
abstract: Aim-To evaluate the possible involvement of lymphotropic herpes viruses in Castleman's disease.Methods-Archival formalin fixed, paraffin wax embedded biopsy specimens from 16 HIV negative patients (11 with localised and five of multicentric disease) were studied. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human herpes virus-6 (HHV-6) and human herpes virus-8 (HHV-8) DNA was detected using PCR. PCR was also used to characterise the EBV genomes and the clonal status of the lesions.Results-EBV sequences were identified in nine (56%) cases. The main EBV genotype detected was type 1. Two (12%) cases were positive for both HHV-6 and EBV sequences. HHV-8 sequences were detected in one case of localised Castleman's disease, the sequence of which differed from that of the HHV-8 prototype. No clonal immunoglobulin gene rearrangements were found.Conclusions-EBV DNA was detected in a substantial proportion of cases, suggesting that it may have a role in the pathogenesis of Castleman's disease, unlike HHV-6 which was detected rarely. This is the first report of HHV-8 specific sequences in the localised from of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Haematology, University of Modena, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barozzi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luppi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Masini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marasca
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Savarino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morselli
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bevini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bonacorsi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Torelli