Human herpesvirus-8: beyond Kaposi's .
Today, more than 10 years and 2000 articles since human herpesvirus 8 was first described by Chang et al., novel insights into the transmission and molecular biology of HHV-8 have unveiled a new spectrum of diseases attributed to the virus. The association of HHV-8 with proliferative disorders--including Kaposi's sarcoma, multicentric Castleman disease and primary effusion lymphoma--is well established. Other aspects of HHV-8 infection are currently the subject of accelerated research. Primary HHV-8 infection may manifest as a mononucleosis-like syndrome in the immunocompetent host, or in various forms in the immunocompromised host. The association of HHV-8 with primary pulmonary hypertension was observed by Cool et al. in 2003, but six clinical trials evaluating the role of HHV-8 in pulmonary hypertension have not been able to replicate this intriguing observation. It has been speculated that HHV-8 may secondarily infect proliferating endothelium in patients with pulmonary hypertension. HHV-8 epidemiology, modes of transmission, new spectrum of disease and treatment are presented and discussed.
Rimar
Doron
D
Department of Medicine, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel. doronrimar@gmail.com
Rimar
Yossi
Y
Keynan
Yoav
Y
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000821:virology; D002648:Child; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000821:virology*; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D051359:Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008967:Molecular Biology; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*
D000998:Antiviral Agents