HHV-8 (KSHV) is not associated with bacillary angiomatosis

Abstract

Aims-Bacillary angiomatosis is a rare pseudoneoplastic angioproliferative lesion occurring in patients with AIDS. This condition has been associated with Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana infections. Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) is thought to be the causative agent of Kaposi's sarcoma, a vasoproliferative neoplasm, also commonly found in patients with AIDS. The presence of HHV-8 in a cohort of patients with bacillary angiomatosis was investigated. Methods-Eight cutaneous cases of biopsy confirmed bacillary angiomatosis were assessed for HHV-8 using standard solution phase polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results-No case of bacillary angiomatosis harboured HHV-8 DNA.Conclusions-HHV-8 was not demonstrated in the lesions of bacillary angiomatosis and therefore does not appear to play a role in the pathogenesis of this pseudoneoplastic angioproliferative disorder. This finding might be useful in the distinction of bacillary angiomatosis from Kaposi's sarcoma, because lesions from patients with Kaposi's sarcoma almost always contains HHV-8 DNA. (J Clin Pathol: Mol Pathol 1999;52:345-348)

Angiomatosis bacilar por Bartonella quintana como primera manifestación de infección por VIH: Report of one case

“…La presencia de máculas violáceas en el SK sirve para diferenciarlo de la AB, ya que éstas no están presentes en la AB. Además histológicamente el SK presenta células fusiformes y no epiteloídeas, sin estructuras cocobacilares en la tinción de Warthin-Starry, mientras que la AB presenta vasos sanguíneos mejor formados, sin fascículos fusocelulares y tiene respuesta favorable a antibióticos 21 . Otros diagnósticos a considerar son las lesiones miliares y mulares de verruga peruana (Bartonella bacilliformis) y el granuloma telangiectásico.…”

The HIV-positive skin biopsy

“…Rare biopsies of otherwise typical BA cases, however, may reveal Kaposiform areas at the periphery 94. Absence of detectable HHV-8 by immunohistochemistry or PCR is helpful in such cases 107. It is nevertheless worth noting that rare cases of BA with concurrent KS have been documented 108.…”