Unusual Presentations for EBV and HHV8 Co-Infections: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Abstract

HHV-8 is known to be related to Kaposi sarcomas but can be responsible for other diseases such as Castleman’s disease (MCD) and primary effusion lymphoma (PEL). Epstein-Barr virus, on the other hand, is generally responsible for B-lineage lymphoproliferative diseases (LPD). In this case report we describe the case of a co-infection with HHV-8 and EBV with an unusual presentation. It is in fact a Kaposi sarcoma diagnosed in a heterosexual, immunocompetent and HIV-negative patient who initially presented with nodal disease only and a severe hemolytic anaemia. The same patient was also diagnosed with a T-lineage LPD with only bone marrow localization. The overall clinical presentation evolved favorably until complete resolution with the use of chemotherapy including drugs active in both histotypes. These data are contextualized with the evidence available in the current literature regarding the most common clinical manifestations of these infections.

Categories: Infectious Disease, Oncology, Hematology Keywords: t cell lymphoproliferative disorder, autoimmune hemolytic anemia (aiha), cytotoxic chemotherapy, hiv negative kaposi sarcoma, epstein barr virus (EBV), hhv 8