Evaluation of coexistence of the Human Herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8) infection and pemphigus.
BACKGROUND
Human Herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8) is a new member of the herpes virus family, first found in the tissue of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related Kaposi's sarcoma. Environmental factors including viral infection may play a role in the onset and/or development of pemphigus. Some studies based on polymerase chain reaction findings suggest an association between HHV-8 and pemphigus. The aim of this study is investigation of the association of pemphigus with HHV-8 and the relationship between inflammatory and acantholytic cells with HHV-8 infection.


METHODS
Tissue-extracted DNA from 41 paraffin-embedded skin tissues from patients first presenting with pemphigus was tested using nested PCR for the presence of HHV-8. A total of 37 cases had pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and 4 patients had pemphigus foliaceus (PF). For our control group, normal skin of 21 cosmetic surgery patients were included. Furthermore, microscopic slides with H&E staining were evaluated for the number of inflammatory and acantholytic cells per microscopic field.


RESULTS
Skin lesions from 13 of 37 patients (35.1%) with PV and 2 of 4 cases (50%) with PF were positive for HHV-8 DNA. All specimens in our control group were negative for this virus.


CONCLUSIONS
HHV-8 infection might be a contributing factor in the initiation or development of pemphigus.
Meibodi
Naser Tayyebi
NT
Dermatology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Nahidi
Yalda
Y
Mahmoudi
Mahmoud
M
Javidi
Zari
Z
Rastin
Maryam
M
Sheikh
Akram
A
Esmaeeli
Habib Allah
HA
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D015995:Prevalence
D004279:DNA, Viral