Molecular Detection of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus/ Human Herpesvirus-8

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), also called human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8), is the most recently identified human herpesvirus (1). It has been found to be invariably present in Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) lesions, whether these are associated with AIDS (epidemic KS), therapeutic immunosuppression (iatrogenic KS), or high-incidence regions in Africa (endemic KS), or in its "classic" form (sporadic KS) (for reviews see refs. 2 and 3). By contrast, with few reported exceptions, it has not been found to be present in a variety of other vascular tumors and reactive conditions. A seroepidemiologic association of this virus and KS has been well documented, and it is currently accepted that KSHV plays a necessary, although not sufficient, role in the development of KS. Although diagnosis of KS is usually not difficult based on clinical and histologic features, some cases may have unusual morphology, with features overlapping those of other vascular and spindle cells proliferations. In these instances, molecular detection is useful to confirm or rule out a diagnosis of KS.