Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus in non-Hodgkin lymphoma and reactive lymphadenopathy in Uganda

Hum Pathol. 2007 Feb;38(2):308-14. doi: 10.1016/j.humpath.2006.08.009. Epub 2006 Nov 13.

Abstract

Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) causes Kaposi sarcoma and is also associated with primary effusion lymphoma, a subset of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, and multicentric Castleman disease. Because KSHV infection is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa, we sought to identify cases of KSHV-positive non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs) and reactive lymphadenopathy in this region. One hundred forty-four cases (80 NHLs, 64 reactive lymph nodes) from the major pathology laboratory in Uganda were reviewed. One NHL was KSHV-positive, as indicated by staining for the viral latent nuclear antigen. This NHL was a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in a 5-year-old boy. The tumor was also Epstein-Barr virus-positive. In addition, 2 reactive lymph nodes, both classified histologically as follicular involution, stained KSHV latent nuclear antigen-positive and thus most likely represent multicentric Castleman disease. In all 3 KSHV-positive cases, a minority of cells expressed KSHV viral interleukin 6, a biologically active cytokine homolog. In conclusion, we show that KSHV is rarely associated with lymphoproliferative disorders in sub-Saharan Africa. We describe the first case of a KSHV-positive NHL from this region; this case is also the first reported pediatric lymphoma associated with KSHV infection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Viral / analysis
  • Child, Preschool
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / pathology
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / virology
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / genetics
  • Herpesvirus 8, Human / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Lymphatic Diseases / pathology*
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / pathology
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / virology
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / pathology
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / virology
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / pathology*
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / virology
  • Male
  • Nuclear Proteins / analysis
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi / pathology*
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi / virology
  • Uganda

Substances

  • Antigens, Viral
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • latency-associated nuclear antigen