SEARCH FOR KAPOSIS-SARCOMA-ASSOCIATED VIRUS-DNA IN HEMANGIOPROLIFERATIVE DISORDERS AND CUTANEOUS MALIGNANT-LYMPHOMA

Recently, a Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpes virus (KSHV) was discov ered. We evaluated by PCR 14 paraffin-embedded specimens with the hist ological diagnosis of endemic, classic and HIV-associated Kaposi's sar coma (KS) for the presence of the KSHV DNA sequence. In addition, biop sies of adjacent, histologically unaffected skin, peripheral-blood mon onuclear cells (PBMCs) of HIV-infected KS patients, PBMCs of one class ic KS patient, and specimens of patients with hemangioproliferative di sorders other than KS as well as samples of cutaneous T- and B-cell ly mphoma were analyzed for KSHV. In all cases of KS, independent of the KS subtype, KSHV was detected in lesional skin. No KSHV was found in b iopsies of the adjacent unaffected skin or PBMCs of HIV-infected KS pa tients. We found KSHV in the PBMCs of a patient with classical KS. All specimens of cutaneous T- and B-cell lymphomas or lymphomatoid papulo sis were negative for KSHV. In addition, the samples with hemangioprol iferative disorders other than KS were negative for KSHV. There was on e borderline case of KS or acroangiodermatitis that was positive for K SHV. Additional histological sections and clinical evaluation confirme d the diagnosis of classic KS. In summary, the data indicate that PCR for KSHV should be a useful diagnostic tool in cases of hemangioprolif erative disorders.