Presence Of Human Herpesvirus 8 Research Articles

Correlates of Human Herpesvirus-8 DNA detection among adults in Italy without Kaposi sarcoma

The presence of Human Herpesvirus-8 (HHV8) DNA is predictive of Kaposi sarcoma (KS) among patients with HIV-associated or iatrogenic immunosuppression. However, correlates of HHV8-DNA detection in the general population remain undefined. We assessed correlates of HHV8-DNA detection among Italian adults without KS who had antibodies against HHV8-latent nuclear antigen by immunofluorescence assay. HHV8-K6 DNA sequences were detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells using TaqMan PCR. Of the 158 subjects 26 (16.5%) had detectable HHV8-DNA [median copies/million cells, 53; (13-2128)]. Adjusted for age, sex, and laboratory, HHV8-DNA was detected more frequently in participants with >7 total residents in the childhood home [OR = 3.7 (1.5-9.1)], >2 younger siblings [OR = 2.6 (1.1-6.5)], and current cardiovascular [OR = 3.6 (1.3-9.7)] or renal [OR = 3.1 (1.2-8.0)] disease. Excluding the participants using immune modulating drugs, HHV8-DNA was more frequent among those with low red blood cells (RBC) [<4.5 10(6)/microl; OR = 5.3 (1.7-16.2)], slightly elevated mean corpuscular volume [>92 microm3/red cell; OR = 2.8 (1.0-7.8)], and mild thrombocytopenia [<151 K/microl; OR = 5.6 (1.9-16.3)]. Presence of HHV8-DNA in elderly Italians is associated with childhood crowding, low RBCs, and platelets, perhaps indicating roles for early infection and chronic inflammation. These risk factors are the first to be reported for non-immunosuppressed HHV8-seropositive adults.

C-Kit (CD117) Expression in AIDS-Related, Classic, and African Endemic Kaposi Sarcoma

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a multicentric vascular neoplasm characterized histologically by the progressive proliferation of spindle-shaped tumor cells in all epidemiologic (AIDS-related, classic, endemic, and iatrogenic) forms. Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) is associated with all epidemiologic forms of KS and has been shown in vitro to induce the tyrosine receptor kinase c-kit in HHV8-infected cells. To date, c-kit immunoreactivity has not been systematically studied in KS lesions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate c-kit expression by immunohistochemistry in different proliferative stages and epidemiologic forms of KS. Archival cases of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded KS lesions, including 9 classic, 11 AIDS-related, and 15 African (endemic) forms at various histologic stages (5 patch, 8 plaque, 22 nodular), biopsied from different sites, were stained using immunohistochemistry with antibodies to HHV8 (LNA-1) and c-kit (CD117). C-kit immunoreactivity of lesional cells was demonstrated in 15 (43%) cases overall. A total of five (56%) classic, five (45%) AIDS-related, and five (33%) endemic KS cases were positive for c-kit. There was no difference in the intensity of c-kit staining between the different epidemiologic groups and histologic stages of KS. HHV8 (LNA-1) immunoreactivity was present in all (100%) classic, 10 (91%) AIDS-related, and 9 (60%) endemic cases. LNA-1 staining was demonstrated in 13 (93%) of the c-kit-positive and 15 (75%) of the c-kit-negative KS lesions. These findings indicate that c-kit expression in lesional cells can be detected by immunohistochemistry in different epidemiologic forms and histologic stages of KS. Furthermore, the expression of c-kit does not correspond with the presence of HHV8 (LNA-1) immunoreactivity in KS lesions.

Pathology of bone marrow in human herpes virus‐8 (HHV8)‐associated multicentric Castleman disease

Human herpes virus-8 (HHV8)-associated multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) is an unusual systemic lymphoid hyperplasia induced by HHV8-infected B cells. Most cases develop in the background of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Despite the haematological problems at presentation and the difficulties in the initial diagnosis, the bone marrow appearances of MCD have not been described. In this study we examined the pathology of bone marrow in MCD with a view to identify the features that may be helpful in early diagnosis. Bone marrow aspirates and biopsies from 13 cases of MCD (11 of which were HIV+) and 66 control bone marrow biopsies from HIV-infected cases were studied. The specimens were routinely processed and stained. Immunohistochemistry for HHV8, immunoglobulin light chains, B-cell and plasma-cell markers was performed. The most important features were the presence of characteristic MCD lymphoid follicles containing HHV8+ plasmablasts in three of 13 cases of MCD and scattered interstitial HHV8+ plasmablasts in 11 of 13 cases. In control cases, no such follicles were seen and interstitial HHV8+ plasmablasts were rarely detected (four of 66 cases). Our results suggest that the presence of HHV8+ plasmablasts within lymphoid follicles and/or interstitium of the bone marrow are helpful features for the early diagnosis of MCD.

Transient Expression of Human Herpesvirus-8 (Kaposi’s Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus) ORF50 Enhances HIV-1 Replication

Objective: Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) is the etiologic agent of Kaposi’s sarcoma, the most common neoplasm in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Current evidence indicates that activation of viral replication may be critical to the development of the disease. A key factor in the induction of HHV-8 lytic replication is ORF50, an immediate-early gene encoding a transactivating protein necessary for viral reactivation. We recently reported that ORF50 synergizes with HIV-1 tat at a post-transcriptional level. To study the effects of these molecular interactions upon HIV replication and biology, cell lines of different origin were transiently transfected with ORF50 and subsequently infected with HIV. Methods: Jurkat, BCBL-1 and A172 cells were transfected with ORF50 and subsequently infected with different MOI of HIV. The development of infection was evaluated by analyzing p24 antigen release, production of infectious HIV particles and the presence and transcription of HIV proviral DNA. Results: ORF50 induced increased levels of HIV replication and production in CD4+ Jurkat T cells. Transfection of ORF50 into nonsusceptible B and glial cells (BCBL-1 and A172, respectively) increased cell susceptibility to infection and resulted in transient permissiveness to HIV replication. Conclusions: HIV replication can be significantly affected by the presence of HHV-8. Expression of ORF50 increases the efficiency of HIV infection in different cell types. This potentially could result in enhanced HIV spread within the infected organism and faster progression of the disease.

Human herpesvirus 8 genome is not found in whole bone marrow core biopsy specimens of patients with plasma cell dyscrasias.

Recently, molecular evidence of the gamma herpesvirus, human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), was found in the nonmalignant bone marrow stromal cells of patients with multiple myeloma using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay. Other investigators have been unable to confirm either the presence of HHV-8 using molecular techniques or serologic evidence of prior infection with HHV-8. In order to maximize the likelihood of detection of small quantities of the virus and minimize the risk of potential nucleic acid contamination, we used entire bone marrow biopsy core specimens for DNA extraction and amplification. These specimens included both malignant plasma cells and bone marrow stromal cells and were subjected to minimal manipulation prior to DNA extraction and PCR. We tested eight patients with various plasma cell dyscrasias and compared them to negative controls with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma using standard PCR assays utilizing the KS330(233)primers and probe for HHV-8. This assay is reproducibly positive in Kaposi's sarcoma tissue. We found no evidence of HHV-8 DNA in either the lymphoma controls or the samples from patients with the plasma cell dyscrasias using these methods. We conclude that HHV-8 is unlikely to play a major role in the pathogenesis of the plasma cell dyscrasias in the majority of patients with these diseases. This report adds to the body of evidence that HHV-8 is not associated with plasma cell dyscrasias like multiple myeloma.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for human herpesvirus 8 and heteroduplex PCR for clonality assessment in angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia and Kimura's disease.

Recently, human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) has been isolated from almost all cases of Kaposi's sarcoma. It has not been found in most cutaneous hemangioproliferative disorders other than Kaposi's sarcoma. Benign vascular lesions including Kimura's disease were not found to contain the HHV-8 DNA sequence. However, there has been contradictory data concerning the presence of HHV-8 in angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia (ALHE). Clonality studies in ALHE and Kimura's disease were rare. We performed polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based analysis to determine whether HHV-8 is present and heteroduplex analysis of rearranged T-cell receptor (TCR) gene for clonality assessment in paraffin-embedded skin biopsy samples of 7 ALHE and 2 Kimura's disease, taken from immunocompetent patients. HHV-8 could not be identified in all the cases of ALHE and Kimura's disease. Although 2 cases (2/7) of ALHE and 2 cases (2/2) of Kimura's disease showed positive result for PCR analysis of TCR, all the cases were negative for heteroduplex-PCR. We suggest that HHV-8 may not involve in a pathogenetic role in ALHE and Kimura's disease and the failure to demonstrate clonality may be consistent with the reactive nature of these diseases and lack of malignant transformation. In addition, heteroduplex-PCR can be applied to confirm doubtful cases of lymphoma in that heteroduplex-PCR is more specific than PCR as seen in our study.

Expression profile of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) in pyothorax associated lymphoma and in effusion lymphoma

Aims—Pyothorax associated lymphoma (PAL) occurs in a clinical setting of longstanding pyothorax or chronic inflammation of the pleura. Like primary effusion lymphoma, it has an association with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV),...

Primary Effusion Lymphoma (PEL) in HIV-Negative Patients - a Distinct Clinical Entity

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a recently described rare type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma occurring almost exclusively in HIV infected people. Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), has been linked with PEL, and a causative relationship has been suggested. In the vast majority of PEL cases Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been found in the tumour cells. We describe here an elderly human immune deficiency (HIV) seronegative man with intractable chest pain and pleural effusion. The diagnosis of malignant lymphoma was suggested cytologically and confirmed histologically following pleural biopsy. No lymphadenopathy or organ involvement with lymphoma was found. Systemic chemotherapy with a modified CHOP regimen with G-CSF support gradually led to the resolution of the chest pain and ultimately resulted in a complete clinical remission (CCR). The presence of HHV-8 was demonstrated by PCR using paraffin-embedded tissue samples from the involved pleura, whereas EBV-associated genetic material was absent. The patient remained in CCR for 18 months and died of an unrelated cause (cerebrovascular event). Only 11 other cases with clinical and virological features similar to those of our patient have been reported in the literature. Analysis of these rare cases suggests HIV-negative EBV-negative PEL to be a distinct clinical entity with epidemiological features resembling classical KS and supports an EBV-independent role for HHV-8 in the pathogenesis of PEL.

Identification of antigenic proteins encoded by human herpesvirus 8 and seroprevalence in the general population and among patients with and without Kaposi's sarcoma.

To establish a sensitive and specific antibody assay, potent antigenic proteins encoded by human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) were studied. Fifteen recombinant HHV8-encoded proteins were produced as glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins. The sera from AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) patients reacted with four proteins encoded by open reading frames (ORFs) K8.1, 59, 65, and 73 in a Western blot assay. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using these four proteins as antigens (mixed-antigen ELISA) revealed that all 26 sera derived from KS patients (24 with and 2 without human immunodeficiency virus infection) became positive for anti-HHV8 antibodies. The presence of HHV8 was demonstrated in 14 (1. 4%) of 1,004 sera from the Japanese general population and 10 (1.9%) of 527 sera from patients without HHV8-associated diseases. The presence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibodies against HHV8 examined further by the mixed-antigen ELISA and Western blotting revealed IgG antibody in all ELISA-positive sera, while IgM antibody against ORF K8.1 was absent. These data suggest that the ORF 73 and 65 proteins are potent antigens for a sensitive serological assay.

Localisation of HHV-8 in AIDS related lymphadenopathy

Background—Many lymph node abnormalities have been described in AIDS. These include opportunistic infections that sometimes result in spindle cell pseudotumours, Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), malignant lymphoma (Hodgkin's and nonHodgkin's), and florid...

HHV-8 (KSHV) is not associated with bacillary angiomatosis.

AIMS: Bacillary angiomatosis is a rare pseudoneoplastic angioproliferative lesion occurring in patients with AIDS. This condition has been associated with Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana infections. Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8)...

Human herpesvirus 8 (Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus) infection in men receiving treatment for HIV-1 infection.

To determine the prevalence of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection in men treated for HIV-1 infection in Denver, Colorado. Cross-sectional analysis Blood samples were obtained from 216 HIV-1-infected men. Antibody to latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA) was detected by an immunofluorescent assay and the presence of HHV-8 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was detected by polymerase chain reaction amplification. Among HIV-1-infected men who did not have Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), prevalence of HHV-8 infection was 46% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39-0.52). LANA seropositivity was common both among subjects with KS and subjects without KS (69% versus 42%; p = .06), but detection of HHV-8 DNA in peripheral blood was strongly associated with a diagnosis of KS (44% versus 10%; p = .001). In a univariate analysis of study subjects without KS, neither the odds of LANA seropositivity nor detection of HHV-8 DNA in PBMC was significant for CD4+ lymphocyte count, HIV-1 virus load, the use of three drug antiretroviral regimens or the prior occurrence of non-KS AIDS-related conditions. Although antibodies to HHV-8 are common among HIV-1-infected men, detection of HHV-8 DNA in PBMC is uncommon and is associated with a diagnosis of Kaposi's sarcoma.

Human Herpesvirus 8 (Kaposi's Sarcoma–Associated Herpesvirus) Infection in Men Receiving Treatment for HIV-1 Infection

Objective: To determine the prevalence of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection in men treated for HIV-1 infection in Denver, Colorado. Design: Cross-sectional analysis Methods: Blood samples were obtained from 216 HIV-1-infected men. Antibody to latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA) was detected by an immunofluorescent assay and the presence of HHV-8 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was detected by polymerase chain reaction amplification. Results: Among HIV-1-infected men who did not have Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), prevalence of HHV-8 infection was 46% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39-0.52). LANA seropositivity was common both among subjects with KS and subjects without KS (69% versus 42%; p = .06), but detection of HHV-8 DNA in peripheral blood was strongly associated with a diagnosis of KS (44% versus 10%; p = .001). In a univariate analysis of study subjects without KS, neither the odds of LANA seropositivity nor detection of HHV-8 DNA in PBMC was significant for CD4+ lymphocyte count, HIV-1 virus load, the use of three drug antiretroviral regimens or the prior occurrence of non-KS AIDS-related conditions. Conclusion: Although antibodies to HHV-8 are common among HIV-1-infected men, detection of HHV-8 DNA in PBMC is uncommon and is associated with a diagnosis of Kaposi's sarcoma.

Dendritic cells cultured from mononuclear cells and CD34 cells in myeloma do not harbour human herpesvirus 8.

Dendritic cells (DC) are antigen-presenting cells with the potential to be a powerful adjuvant in the immunotherapy of haematological malignancy, including myeloma. Recently, human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection of dendritic cells in the long-term bone marrow stromal cultures of patients with myeloma has been reported. This finding is of great potential importance regarding oncogenesis in myeloma in addition to having significant implications for the use of DC in the immunotherapy of this disease. Therefore DC generated from mobilized blood mononuclear cells (MO-DC) and purified CD34+ cells (CD34-DC) of myeloma patients were examined for the presence of HHV-8 using a sensitive PCR technique. HHV-8 was not demonstrated in MO-DC or CD34-DC and we conclude that these cells remain a suitable vehicle for investigation in the immunotherapy of myeloma.

γ-Interferon Production in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes From Kaposi's Sarcoma Patients: Correlation With the Presence of Human Herpesvirus-8 in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and Lesional Macrophages

AbstractEvidence indicates that, at least in the early stage, Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a cytokine-mediated disease and that it is consistently associated with a novel herpesvirus termed human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8). To gain insights into the mechanisms by which cytokines and HHV-8 may cooperate in disease pathogenesis, we examined the phenotype, the Th1 (γ-interferon [γIFN]) and Th2 (interleukin-4 [IL-4]) cytokine profile and the presence of HHV-8 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), and spindle cell cultures derived from skin lesions of patients affected by classical KS (C-KS) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-associated KS (AIDS-KS). TIL and spindle cell cultures were examined at day 0 or after culture in conditioned media from activated T cells (TCM) that contain the same cytokines increased in KS tissues. No differences were found in the immunophenotype of PBMC from C-KS patients versus controls, except for AIDS-KS patients who showed a T-CD8+ expansion. However, a preferential infiltration of T-CD8+ cells was found in all KS lesions examined, which was maintained after culture of TIL in TCM. γIFN production was found in both PBMC and cultures derived from all KS examined; some IL-4 positive supernatants were found only in three AIDS-KS cases. Uninvolved skin did not show appreciable lymphocyte infiltration or cytokine production. The culture conditions of the lesional skin allowed also the appearance of adherent, spindle-like cells bearing markers of tissue macrophages. Finally, most or all of the PBMC, lesions, and macrophagic cell cultures from the skin lesions were found to be positive for HHV-8 infection by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). These findings indicate that patients with KS express a Th1 phenotype with a prevalent γIFN production, likely accounted for by the local T-CD8+ infiltration. By analogy with other viral infections (ie, Epstein-Barr virus), this suggests that in loco recruitment of lymphoid cells and the subsequent γIFN production may be in response to or elicited by HHV-8 that was found in both PBMC and macrophagic cell cultures from the lesions of the same patients.

γ-Interferon Production in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes From Kaposi's Sarcoma Patients: Correlation With the Presence of Human Herpesvirus-8 in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and Lesional Macrophages

Evidence indicates that, at least in the early stage, Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a cytokine-mediated disease and that it is consistently associated with a novel herpesvirus termed human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8). To gain insights into the mechanisms by which cytokines and HHV-8 may cooperate in disease pathogenesis, we examined the phenotype, the Th1 (γ-interferon [γIFN]) and Th2 (interleukin-4 [IL-4]) cytokine profile and the presence of HHV-8 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), and spindle cell cultures derived from skin lesions of patients affected by classical KS (C-KS) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-associated KS (AIDS-KS). TIL and spindle cell cultures were examined at day 0 or after culture in conditioned media from activated T cells (TCM) that contain the same cytokines increased in KS tissues. No differences were found in the immunophenotype of PBMC from C-KS patients versus controls, except for AIDS-KS patients who showed a T-CD8+ expansion. However, a preferential infiltration of T-CD8+ cells was found in all KS lesions examined, which was maintained after culture of TIL in TCM. γIFN production was found in both PBMC and cultures derived from all KS examined; some IL-4 positive supernatants were found only in three AIDS-KS cases. Uninvolved skin did not show appreciable lymphocyte infiltration or cytokine production. The culture conditions of the lesional skin allowed also the appearance of adherent, spindle-like cells bearing markers of tissue macrophages. Finally, most or all of the PBMC, lesions, and macrophagic cell cultures from the skin lesions were found to be positive for HHV-8 infection by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). These findings indicate that patients with KS express a Th1 phenotype with a prevalent γIFN production, likely accounted for by the local T-CD8+ infiltration. By analogy with other viral infections (ie, Epstein-Barr virus), this suggests that in loco recruitment of lymphoid cells and the subsequent γIFN production may be in response to or elicited by HHV-8 that was found in both PBMC and macrophagic cell cultures from the lesions of the same patients.

Human herpesvirus 8 in Kaposi's sarcoma and Kaposi's sarcoma-mimicking vascular tumors.

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) had been a rare and unusual vascular tumor until a recent epidemic of a disseminated and fulminant form of KS in AIDS patients. Infectious agents have been suspected of causing KS, and recently partial genomic DNA sequences of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) have been identified in AIDS-associated KS lesions. Since then, genomic DNA sequences of HHV8 have been isolated in other forms of KS. Although the partial genomic DNA sequence of HHV8 was reported to be, if rare, identified in vascular tumors other than Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), the presence of HHV8 in a very large fraction of KS indicates that detection of HHV8 by PCR is a useful auxiliary tool in differentiating KS from other KS-mimicking vascular tumors. We examined whether the 233-bp segment of the viral DNA was detected in Korean patients with KS and other KS-mimicking vascular tumors. HHV8 sequences were identified in all of nine classic type of KS but not in three epithelioid hemangioendotheliomas and seven angiosarcomas. Our results confirm the relatively restricted distribution of HHV8 and also argue against the likelihood of secondary colonization of KS cells by HHV8.

Sequences of Human Herpesvirus 8 Are Not Detected in Various Non-Kaposi Sarcoma Vascular Lesions

A new virus, human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), has recently been associated with Kaposi sarcoma (KS), body cavity—based lymphoma, and Castleman disease.¹Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with the KS330₂₃₃primers, HHV-8 sequences were detected in an angiosarcoma specimen from a 63-year-old woman who was seronegative for the human immunodeficiency virus,²in 4 cases of angiolymphoid hyperplasia and eosinophilia,³in 7 of 24 angiosarcomas, and in 1 of 20 hemangiomas.⁴Other authors^5,6have failed to demonstrate evidence of HHV-8 in various vascular lesions from Japanese or Chinese patients, including hemangiomas, hemangiopericytomas, pyogenic granulomas, and cutaneous or visceral angiosarcomas. However, a lack of test sensitivity could account for these negative results since they were obtained from parraffin-embedded tissues using a simple PCR. Taking into account these controversial findings, our aim was to obtain further data on the presence of HHV-8 in benign or malignant non-KS vascular

Circulating spindle cells: correlation with human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) infection and Kaposi's sarcoma

Vol 349 • January 25, 1997 255 cultures with the endothelial cell marker VE-cadherin and the tissue-macrophage marker PAM-1 (40–60% in KS patients and 0·5–6% in controls) (table). 4 weeks later, culture were examined for HHV-8 DNA sequences by nested PCR. None of the control cultures was positive, whereas HHV-8 was detected in all T-KS and AIDS-KS cases and in 11/14 cultures derived from patients with C-KS (table). HHV-8 was also detected in the patient with C-KS after bleomycin therapy. Our results indicate that an expansion of circulating KS-like cells or their progenitors is present in all forms of KS; KS-derived cultures are infected by HHV-8; and the presence of HHV-8 in these cells correlates with KS. Since these cells are capable of chemotaxis and can induce KS-like lesion formation in nude mice, our data suggest that they may localise into tissues, transmit HHV-8 infection to neighbour cells, and participate in the formation of KS lesions.

Investigation of superior vena caval obstruction.

AIMS: Bacillary angiomatosis is a rare pseudoneoplastic angioproliferative lesion occurring in patients with AIDS. This condition has been associated with Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana infections. Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) is thought to be the causative agent of Kaposi9s sarcoma, a vasoproliferative neoplasm, also commonly found in patients with AIDS. The presence of HHV-8 in a cohort of patients with bacillary angiomatosis was investigated. METHODS: Eight cutaneous cases of biopsy confirmed bacillary angiomatosis were assessed for HHV-8 using standard solution phase polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: No case of bacillary angiomatosis harboured HHV-8 DNA. CONCLUSIONS: HHV-8 was not demonstrated in the lesions of bacillary angiomatosis and therefore does not appear to play a role in the pathogenesis of this pseudoneoplastic angioproliferative disorder. This finding might be useful in the distinction of bacillary angiomatosis from Kaposi9s sarcoma, because lesions from patients with Kaposi9s sarcoma almost always contains HHV-8 DNA.