Human Herpes Virus 8 in Skin Disease: An Immunoperoxidase Analysis

Abstract

Human herpes virus 8 (HHV8) has been consistently implicated in the pathogenesis of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and has been studied in a variety of skin lesions, principally by means of polymerase chain reaction. With this in mind, we sought to characterize a variety of skin lesions by means of paraffin immunoperoxidase studies using the antibody to the HHV8 latent nuclear antigen 1. We studied a variety of benign and malignant vascular lesions, including KS (eight cases), hemangiomas (six), angiolymphoid hyperplasia (three), and angiosarcoma (two). In addition, we assessed antibody staining in lymphomatoid papulosis (LYP; 5 cases), pityriasis lichenoides et varioliforrnis acuta (5), and pityriasis rosea (5) as well as a variety of lnesenchymal and epithelial primary cutaneous tumors (nine cases). In accordance with previous studies, all cases of KS (8/8) showed positive staining with HHV8 in a granular nuclear pattern; staining was limited to tumor cells. None of the other cutaneous tumors or inflammatory conditions showed any staining (0/35). HHV8 is a useful tool in confirming the diagnosis of cutaneous KS. Consistent with previous studies, HHV8 was not demonstrated in LYP and, novel to this study, was not found in pityriasis rosea or pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta. Paraffin ilnmunoperoxidase with HHV8 latent nuclear antigen 1 is a viable alternative to polymerase chain reaction and can be used in diagnostic and research capacities with consistent results. (The J Histotechnol 28:67, 2005)Submitted November 30, 2004; accepted with revisions April 6, 2005