pathogenesis
Last reviewed 01/2018
It was previously believed that the development of AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma was due to the production of cytokines and HIV products in the infected individual. However careful epidemiological studies have refuted these ideas and lead to the discovery of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8).
The discovery of HHV-8 has helped to explain the evolution of AIDS related Kaposi's sarcoma. It seems that HHV-8, which doesn't normally cause disease emerged as a pathogen during the AIDS epidemic due to sharing risk factors for transmission with HIV.