Herpesvirus-like DNA sequences in non-Kaposi's sarcoma skin lesions of transplant patients.

Herpesvirus-like DNA sequences (KSHV) have been reported to be associated with various forms of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). To determine if KSHV was associated with other proliferative skin lesions from non-AIDS immunocompromised patients, 33 skin lesions (basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, actinic keratoses, verruca vulgaris, atypical squamous proliferations, and seborrhoeic keratosis) from 4 organ-transplant patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy were tested for KSHV by PCR. KSHV sequences were detected in 82% of these skin lesions. Our results suggest that KSHV is associated with lesions other than KS in non-AIDS immunocompromised patients, and may also be involved in the pathogenesis of the various forms of proliferative skin lesions from organ-transplant patients.