Human Herpesvirus 8-Associated Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patients

We retrospectively reviewed 5 cases of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HL) associated with human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) reactivation in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. All patients had clinical and biological features characteristic of HL. Pulmonary symptoms were present in...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical infectious diseases 2003-07, Vol.37 (2), p.285-291
Main Authors: Fardet, L., Blum, L., Kerob, D., Agbalika, F., Galicier, L., Dupuy, A., Lafaurie, M., Meignin, V., Morel, P., Lebbá, C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections - virology
Biological and medical sciences
Blood
Cytokines
Female
Giant lymph node hyperplasia
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
Herpesviridae Infections - pathology
Herpesviridae Infections - virology
Herpesvirus 8, Human
Histiocytosis, Non-Langerhans-Cell - pathology
Histiocytosis, Non-Langerhans-Cell - virology
HIV
HIV Infections - complications
HIV/AIDS
Human herpesvirus 8
Human viral diseases
Humans
Infections
Infectious diseases
Kaposi sarcoma
Male
Medical sciences
Retrospective Studies
Viral diseases
Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids
Viruses
Xeroderma pigmentosum
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:We retrospectively reviewed 5 cases of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HL) associated with human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) reactivation in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. All patients had clinical and biological features characteristic of HL. Pulmonary symptoms were present in all patients and were frequently life threatening. The mean number of HL episodes was 6. Four patients had HL-associated Kaposi sarcoma, and 3 had multicentric Castleman disease. The mean CD4 cell count was 200 cells/mm3. HIV loads were stable in all patients. All patients had high levels of HHV-8 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells during attacks, and a significant increase in this parameter before the attacks was seen in 3 patients. Although 2 patients died of HL, 3 are still alive and receiving etoposide therapy (mean follow-up, 3 years). HHV-8-related HL is associated with life-threatening symptoms and biological HHV-8 reactivation, and it may be controlled in the long term by etoposide therapy combined with highly active antiretroviral therapy.
ISSN:1058-4838
1537-6591
DOI:10.1086/375224