HHV8 A subtype tied to aggressive Kaposi's sarcoma

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) strains associated with classic Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), the A subtype is associated with rapidly progressive disease, Italian researchers report in the December issue of the Journal of Medical Virology.Dr. Roberta Mancuso of the Don Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, and colleagues note that although the link between HHV8 and KS has been established, much is still unknown.To investigate the pathogenic potential of different HHV8 genotypes, the researchers studied blood, serum and saliva samples from 38 subjects with classic KS.The highest viral loads were detected in saliva, and higher concentrations of lytic antibodies and higher viral loads were observed in patients with fast progressing KS. HHV8 detection in blood was also more frequent in this group of patients.Type A HHV8 was found in 12 of 17 patients with fast progressing diseases. Type C was seen in 6 of 7 patients with slow progressing disease. Detection of the A strain was also associated with higher blood viral loads. The findings, Dr. Mancuso told Reuters Health, "indicate that the A strain of HHV8 might be associated with a more aggressive form of disease with faster progression, and suggest that more aggressive treatments for patients should be envisioned for patients with this type of HHV8."