Relationship of Kaposi sarcoma (KS)-associated herpesvirus viremia and KS disease in Zimbabwe

Clin Infect Dis. 2003 May 1;36(9):1144-51. doi: 10.1086/374599. Epub 2003 Apr 22.

Abstract

The relationship between Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) viremia and KS disease was investigated in 500 subjects who received treatment in Harare, Zimbabwe. Subjects were grouped by results of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 serological tests, KS diagnosis, and KS clinical stage. The plasma KSHV DNA concentration was associated with concomitant KS and HIV-1 infection (AIDS-KS; P<.001) and AIDS-KS clinical stage (P=.01). Plasma KSHV DNA levels were greater in AIDS-KS than in matched HIV-1-seronegative KS (P=.04). The plasma KSHV DNA level was not associated with age, sex, systemic symptoms, or CD4+ lymphocyte count. Plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cell KSHV DNA concentrations were linearly related (r2=.44; P<.001), and the nucleotide sequence of the K1 gene highly variable region was identical in both compartments. These findings provide evidence that KSHV viremia is common in advanced AIDS-KS in Zimbabwe and suggest a relationship between KSHV lytic replication and untreated HIV-1 infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • DNA, Viral / analysis
  • Endemic Diseases
  • Female
  • Genetic Variation
  • Herpesvirus 8, Human / genetics
  • Herpesvirus 8, Human / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi / blood
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi / complications*
  • Viremia / blood
  • Viremia / complications*
  • Zimbabwe / epidemiology

Substances

  • DNA, Viral