Kaposi's sarcoma
Less is known about Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) than the other Herpesviruses. Despite the fact that most Herpesviruses are fairly common in the population, HHV-8 is rarely seen in healthy individuals. It has been linked to oral-anal sex and thus is most commonly seen in homosexual men. The virus is known to be similar to EBV in that it has a tropism for B-cells and epithelial cells (which may explain why is causes a cancer of the epithelium, Kaposi's sarcoma).
HHV-8 generally produces an inapparent infection but can become oncogenic in very immunosuppressed individuals as is described below. As such, Kaposi's sarcoma, the cancer to which it is linked, is the second most common cause of death for HIV+ patients.
Oncogenesis
Human Herpesvirus 8 has been determined to cause Kaposi's sarcoma, Castleman disease, and some body cavity lymphomas. Kaposi's sarcoma is the most well-known of these because of its association with HIV positive patients. It is seen most commonly in white homosexual males and appears as a flame-shaped lesion on the skin. This is a cancer of the blood, which may explain the dark, blood-colored lesions.
Created: March 1st, 2000
Updated: March 5th, 2000