Human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) is a γ-herpesvirus that infects lymphocytes, bone marrow stromal cells, endothelial cells and keratinocytes, and is implicated as an etiology in multiple neoplastic conditions (usually associated with immunodeficiency). Kaposi’s sarcoma was the first described entity (1994), which was closely associated with HIV infection. While there is still a close association of HHV-8 driven neoplasms with HIV, this is certainly not an exclusive relationship. Interestingly, most of the HHV-8 lymphoproliferative disorders have plasmabalstic differentiation (helpful hint to evaluate for HHV-8 in such cases, especially if associated with immunodeficiency).
HHV-8 can be identified in affected tissues through an immunohistochemical stain. HHV-8 IHC stain highlights HHV-8 latent nuclear antigen (LNA), which locates to the nuclei of affected cells.
Conditions Associated with HHV-8 Infection
- Kaposi’s Sarcoma
- Primary Effusion Lymphoma (PEL)
- Extracavity Primary Effusion Lymphoma (Extracavity PEL)
- Multi-centric Castleman’s Disease (MCD), most cases
- MCD-assocaited plasmablastic lymphoma
- HHV-8+ plasmablastic micro lymphoma
- Germinotropic lymphoproliferative disorder (GLD), also EBV+
- HHV-8+ Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
- HHV-8 Related Reactive Lymphoid Hyperplasia in HIV Patients
Photomicrographs
References
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