[Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus; human herpesvirus 8]

The discovery of a new human herpesvirus in Kaposi's sarcoma tissues of AIDS patients has opened up new facts in virology and oncology. This herpesvirus was first descriptively named Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, but was recently renamed human herpesvirus 8. Human herpesvirus 8 DNA has been consequently found in all forms of Kaposi's sarcoma, suggesting that it might be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. Additionally, human herpesvirus 8 can be detected in both malignant and benign lymphoproliferative diseases, such as body-cavity-based B-cell lymphomas and multicentric Castleman disease. The virus was also recently found in rare vascular tumors in patients with angiosarcoma of the face and angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia. Although only a limited portion of the viral DNA has been sequenced, it has become evident that the new herpesvirus is equipped with genes that could confer oncogenic potential. The virus can now be cultured, providing the possibility for studies of viral replication and the mode of transmission, and also for the development of serologic tests.