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Fatal hemophagocytic syndrome related to active human herpesvirus‐8/Kaposi sarcoma‐associated herpesvirus infection in human immunodeficiency virus‐negative, non‐transplant patients without related malignancies
Author(s) -
Re A.,
Facchetti F.,
Borlenghi E.,
Cattaneo C.,
Capucci M. A.,
Ungari M.,
Barozzi P.,
Vallerini D.,
Potenza L.,
Torelli G.,
Rossi G.,
Luppi M.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
european journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0902-4441
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0609.2007.00828.x
Subject(s) - sarcoma , autoimmune hemolytic anemia , immunology , medicine , virology , lymphoproliferative disorders , human herpesvirus 6 , immunodeficiency , virus , kaposi's sarcoma , herpesviridae , human herpesvirus , lymphoma , viral disease , antibody , pathology , immune system
Hemophagocytic syndrome (HS) may occur as a consequence of herpes viral infections. Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV‐8)/Kaposi sarcoma‐associated herpesvirus has so far been recognized as a trigger of HS only in immunosuppressed subjects or in patients with Kaposi sarcoma and/or HHV‐8‐related lymphoproliferative diseases. We report two Italian human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐negative elderly men who developed an HS with a rapidly fatal course, following treatment with corticosteroids for autoimmune hemolytic anemia. An overwhelming active infection with HHV‐8 was unequivocally documented by molecular and immunohistochemical methods, in the absence of HHV‐8‐related tumors. The occurrence of HHV‐8‐associated HS, although rare, may be considered, even out of the HIV or the transplantation settings, at least in areas endemic for HHV‐8 infection.