Human herpesvirus 8 DNA load in leukocytes of human immunodeficiency virus-infected subjects: Correlation with the presence of Kaposi's sarcoma and response to anticytomegalovirus therapy

Specific human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) DNA sequences were found in leukocytes of 12 of 29 (41.4%) AIDS subjects with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), whereas they were found in 4 of 43 (9.3%) AIDS subjects without KS (P = 0.003), althoug h the peak HHV-8 DNA load in PCR-positive subjects with KS (mean, 425 copie s per 0.2 mu g of DNA) did not significantly differ from the one found in P CR-positive patients without RS (mean, 218 copies). The use of intravenous ganciclovir or foscarnet therapy to treat cytomegalovirus disease did not a ffect the HHV-8 DNA load in seven patients for whom serial samples were ana lyzed.