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HHV8 and female Kaposi's sarcoma
Author(s) -
Kennedy Margaret M.,
Lucas Sebastian B.,
RussellJones Robin,
Howells David D.,
Picton Steve J.,
Bardon Angela,
Comley Iain L.,
McGee James O'D.,
O'Leary John J.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9896(199712)183:4<447::aid-path954>3.0.co;2-q
Subject(s) - histogenesis , kaposi's sarcoma , taqman , polymerase chain reaction , sarcoma , human herpesvirus , epidemiology , pathogenesis , virology , biology , medicine , pathology , immunology , gene , genetics , immunohistochemistry
Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is an enigmatic tumour of uncertain histogenesis. Epidemiological data have long suggested that KS may be caused by an infectious agent, possibly sexually transmitted. Following the documentation of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) and its strong association with all forms of KS, it now appears that the putative agent has at last been identified. As KS is rare in females, a unique group was screened for the presence of HHV8 using both conventional solution‐phase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the newly described technique of TaqMan® PCR. The presence of HHV8 was demonstrated in 10/12 of these female patients. This further supports the direct role of HHV8, in conjunction with cytokines and other factors, in the pathogenesis of KS. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.