human herpesvirus 8

Last reviewed 01/2018

Human Herpesvirus 8 is closely related to Epstein-Barr Virus (HHV-4)

• HHV-8 is an opportunist and generally does not cause disease in healthy hosts. Immunosuppression or AIDS is usually required before disease is manifested
  
  
• HHV-8 infects CD19+ B cells and endothelial- derived spindle cells of Kaposi's sarcoma lesions
  
  
• in addition to its role in Kaposi's sarcoma, it is known to cause a primary lymphoma (primar-effusion lymphoma) and a B cell lymphoproliferative disorder (a specific subtype of Castleman's disease)
  
  
• a case of bone marrow failure with plasmacytosis has been reported resulting from HHV-8 infection following renal transplantation

Reference:

• 1) P.S. Moore (2000). Editorial NEJM, 343(19), 1411-1413