Severity of Kaposi Sarcoma Linked to Herpesvirus Subtypes

A new and uncommon F variant was associated with aggressive disease.

Human herpesvirus 8, also called Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), is the etiological agent of all types of Kaposi sarcoma (KS), as well as of multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) and primary effusion lymphoma (PEL). The K1 open reading frame (ORF-K1) encodes for a variable transmembrane glycoprotein that defines seven subtype variants of the virus. Whereas these subtypes have been associated with the geographic origin of patients, they may also affect clinical presentation and progression of disease.

To examine this issue, investigators conducted a retrospective study of 57 HIV-infected men living in France with KS, MCD, or PEL. KSHV subtyping was successful in 34 participants and showed the following:

18 of the 34 participants (…

Reviewing Author

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

Severity of Kaposi Sarcoma Linked to Herpesvirus Subtypes

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Reviewing Author