Laboratory Characterization of Co-Infections in Individuals Infected with HHV-8

HHV-8 infection can be asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals but poses significant risks in immunocompromised patients. As an oncovirus, it can lead to Kaposi sarcoma (KS), primary effusion lymphoma, and multicentric Castleman disease (MCD). While the association between HHV-8 and HIV is well-...

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Main Authors: Alex Jett, Zoon Tariq, Rebecca Yee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Viruses
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/4/460
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author Alex Jett
Zoon Tariq
Rebecca Yee
author_facet Alex Jett
Zoon Tariq
Rebecca Yee
author_sort Alex Jett
collection DOAJ
description HHV-8 infection can be asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals but poses significant risks in immunocompromised patients. As an oncovirus, it can lead to Kaposi sarcoma (KS), primary effusion lymphoma, and multicentric Castleman disease (MCD). While the association between HHV-8 and HIV is well-established, other co-infections remain underexplored due to the low incidence of HHV-8 infections. This retrospective, observational study examines twelve individuals infected with HHV-8 over seven years, focusing on patterns of co-infection and the diagnostic need for clinical management. The average age for all patients included in this study was 56 years, and a majority were male (92%). Over a majority presented with fever, night sweats, fatigue, dyspnea, and lymphadenopathy. MCD was the most common diagnosis (42%), followed by KS in the context of MCD (33%). Nearly all patients (92%) were HIV and Epstein-Barr Virus positive, with a total of 43 co-infections identified, including viral (72%), bacterial (16%), parasitic (7%), and fungal (5%) pathogens. Bacterial co-infections were more prevalent in patients diagnosed with KS than in those with MCD (<i>p</i> = 0.02). Given the burden of various co-infections, our findings highlight the need for comprehensive diagnostic testing to guide optimal clinical management and improve patient outcomes.
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spelling doaj-art-fbb9bcf11bc342d3a107e801f65494fa2025-08-20T02:18:01ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152025-03-0117446010.3390/v17040460Laboratory Characterization of Co-Infections in Individuals Infected with HHV-8Alex Jett0Zoon Tariq1Rebecca Yee2Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USADepartment of Pathology, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC 20037, USADepartment of Pathology, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC 20037, USAHHV-8 infection can be asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals but poses significant risks in immunocompromised patients. As an oncovirus, it can lead to Kaposi sarcoma (KS), primary effusion lymphoma, and multicentric Castleman disease (MCD). While the association between HHV-8 and HIV is well-established, other co-infections remain underexplored due to the low incidence of HHV-8 infections. This retrospective, observational study examines twelve individuals infected with HHV-8 over seven years, focusing on patterns of co-infection and the diagnostic need for clinical management. The average age for all patients included in this study was 56 years, and a majority were male (92%). Over a majority presented with fever, night sweats, fatigue, dyspnea, and lymphadenopathy. MCD was the most common diagnosis (42%), followed by KS in the context of MCD (33%). Nearly all patients (92%) were HIV and Epstein-Barr Virus positive, with a total of 43 co-infections identified, including viral (72%), bacterial (16%), parasitic (7%), and fungal (5%) pathogens. Bacterial co-infections were more prevalent in patients diagnosed with KS than in those with MCD (<i>p</i> = 0.02). Given the burden of various co-infections, our findings highlight the need for comprehensive diagnostic testing to guide optimal clinical management and improve patient outcomes.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/4/460HHV8co-infectionslymphoma
spellingShingle Alex Jett
Zoon Tariq
Rebecca Yee
Laboratory Characterization of Co-Infections in Individuals Infected with HHV-8
Viruses
HHV8
co-infections
lymphoma
title Laboratory Characterization of Co-Infections in Individuals Infected with HHV-8
title_full Laboratory Characterization of Co-Infections in Individuals Infected with HHV-8
title_fullStr Laboratory Characterization of Co-Infections in Individuals Infected with HHV-8
title_full_unstemmed Laboratory Characterization of Co-Infections in Individuals Infected with HHV-8
title_short Laboratory Characterization of Co-Infections in Individuals Infected with HHV-8
title_sort laboratory characterization of co infections in individuals infected with hhv 8
topic HHV8
co-infections
lymphoma
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/4/460
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