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Human herpesvirus-8 in Kaposi's sarcoma of the conjunctiva in a patient with AIDS.

Minoda H, Usui N, Sata T, Katano H, Serizawa H, Okada S

Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan. damino@za.pial.jp

PURPOSE: To demonstrate human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) in Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) of the conjunctiva in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). METHODS: Clinical observation, pathologic findings of conjunctival specimens, immunohistochemical staining for HHV-8-specific antigen, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of HHV-8 DNA, and detection of specific antibody in patient's serum at appropriate times. RESULTS: In the conjunctival specimen, swollen endothelial-like cells were found with slit-like vessels. CD 31-positive cells were noted on the inner surface of the slit-like vessels, and HHV-8 latency-associated nuclear antigen was detected. The presence of HHV-8 DNA was demonstrated by PCR. Anti-HHV-8 antibody was found in the patient's serum. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first case report in the ophthalmology literature that provides histological, DNA, and serological evidence that HHV-8 is involved in the pathogenesis of conjunctival KS.

Published 2 February 2006 in Jpn J Ophthalmol, 50(1): 7-11.
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