C. Lebbe et al., No evidence for a role of human herpesvirus type 8 in sarcoidosis: molecular and serological analysis, BR J DERM, 141(3), 1999, pp. 492-496
The aim of this study was to analyse the association between human herpesvi
rus type 8 (HHV8) and sarcoidosis, Using nested polymerase chain reaction (
PCR), we tested the presence of HHV8 DNA sequences in 13 skin specimens and
peripheral blood mononuclear cells from eight patients suffering from sarc
oidosis. We also looked for the presence of HHV8 antibodies in the sera of
28 patients with sarcoidosis using three techniques: two indirect immunoflu
orescence assays and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with recombinant
capsid protein fragment encoded by open-reading frame 65. HHV8 PCR analysis
was negative while HHV8 serological studies showed an overall prevalence o
f 18% among patients suffering from sarcoidosis: 43% in patients from sub-S
aharan Africa, 17% in patients from Northern Africa, 12.5% in patients from
the French West Indies and 0% in French patients. In conclusion, our resul
ts do not indicate an association between HHV8 and sarcoidosis but reflect
the seroepidemiology of this virus in different geographical regions.