The detection of human herpesvirus-8 DNA in plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells in adult patients with pityriasis rosea by polymerase chain reaction.
BACKGROUND
Herpesvirus-like particles have been reported to be detectable by electron microscopy in lesional biopsy of patients with pityriasis rosea (PR). We report a study investigating the association of PR with human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) infection.


METHODS
Our setting is a teaching clinic affiliated to a university. We recruited eight patients aged 28-47 years (mean: 34.5 years) diagnosed with PR during a one-year period. We collected acute blood specimens at presentation and convalescent blood specimens three to four weeks later. We also collected skin scrapings from the herald patch where present and from truncal secondary lesions.


RESULTS
We detected HHV-8 DNA by a nested PCR (polymerase chain reaction) targeting, respectively, a 233-bp and a 160-bp fragment of ORF 26. PCR for HHV-8 DNA was negative in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma of acute and convalescent specimens of all patients, and negative in all skin scrapings. We detected anti-HHV-8 IgG and IgM antibodies by the indirect immunofluorescence. Four patients had IgG antibodies against HHV-8, but with no significant rise of titre. None were positive for anti-HHV-8 IgM antibody.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that PR is not associated with HHV-8 infection.
Chuh
A A T
AA
Department of Community and Family Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China. achuh@iohk.com
Chan
P K S
PK
Lee
A
A
D000328:Adult; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017515:Pityriasis Rosea / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D004279:DNA, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M