Human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) associated with small non-cleaved cell lymphoma in a child with AIDS

The association of human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) with a small non-cleaved cel l lymphoma is described in a child with the acquired immunodeficiency syndr ome (AIDS) who developed a malignant pleural effusion and radiologic eviden ce of multiple solid tumors. HHV-8 DNA and Epstein-Barr virus DNA were iden tified in pleural fluid cells by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplificat ion. The serum antibody titer against lytic HHV-8 proteins was 1:640; antib odies to latent HHV-8 proteins were not detected. Cytogenetic analysis of m alignant cells revealed three abnormal karyotypes sharing the common findin g of a t(8;14) translocation. Rearrangement of c-myc was demonstrated by PC R analysis, Oligoclonal JH immunoglobulin bands were found. Insufficient pl eural fluid cells were available to permit localization of HHV-8 to maligna nt cells by in situ hybridization. This malignancy contrasts with HHV-8-ass ociated lymphomas reported in adult patients with AIDS with respect to cell morphology, c-myc translocation, and oligoclonal immunoglobulin gene rearr angement. HHV-8 is associated with a wider spectrum of malignancies than re cognized previously, Am. J. Hematol. 60:215-221, 1999. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.