High levels of human herpesvirus 8 viral load, human interleukin-6, interleukin-10, and C reactive protein correlate with exacerbation of multicentric Castleman disease in HIV-infected patients

Multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) is a distinct type of lymphoproliferat ive disorder associated with inflammatory symptoms and interleukin-6 (IL-6) dysregulation. In the context of human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infect ion, MCD is associated with human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) infection. In a pros pective study of 23 HIV-infected patients with MCD, clinical symptoms of MC D were present at 45 visits, whereas patients were in chemotherapy-induced clinical re mission at 50 visits. Symptoms were associated with a high leve l of serum C reactive protein, high HHV8 viral load in peripheral blood mon onuclear cells, and high plasma human IL-6 and IL-10 levels. Strong correla tions between plasma IL-6 and plasma IL-10 with the HHV8 viral load suggest that both cytokines may be involved in the pathogenesis of this virus-asso ciated lymphoproliferative disorder. (Blood. 2000;96:2069-2073) (C) 2000 by The American Society of Hematology.