Clearance of human herpesvirus type 8 viraemia in HIV-1-positive patients with Kaposi's sarcoma treated with liposomal doxorubicin

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Abstract
To assess the impact of liposomal doxorubicin on human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8) cell viraemia in HIV-infected patients with Kaposi's sarcoma. Prospective, non-controlled, multicenter study. The presence of HHV-8 DNA was investigated by polymerase chain reaction in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 46 HIV-positive patients with Kaposi's sarcoma. Samples were tested at baseline and every 3 months during treatment with liposomal doxorubicin. CD4 cell counts, plasma HIV RNA, and clinical outcome were recorded at baseline and at follow-up visits. HHV-8 sequences were detected in 32 (70%) patients at baseline. No significant differences were found between subjects with HHV-8 positive and negative results. The proportion of patients with positive HHV-8 viraemia decreased to 38% (10 of 26) after 3 months of treatment with liposomal doxorubicin (P Conclusions HHV-8 cell viraemia significantly decreased during treatment with liposomal doxorubicin in HIV-infected patients with Kaposi's sarcoma, although the clinical response and HHV-8 clearance did not correlate well.