Chronic human herpes virus 8 infection successfully treated with valganciclovir.

BACKGROUND

: A 57 year old Italian female with a 3 year history of constituitional symptoms with non-HIV Kaposi sarcoma was referred to the immunology clinic. She was previously diagnosed with chronic human herpes virus 8 (HHV8) infection with positive HHV8 polymerase chain reaction in serum.

OBJECTIVE

: Is valganciclovir effective in treating chronic human herpes virus 8 infection without Multicentric Castleman's Disease (MCD)?

RESULTS

: She was started on valganciclovir, resulting in remission of her symptoms, improvement in inflammatory markers and clearing of detectable HHV8 viraemia

CONCLUSION

: Valganciclovir is effective in treating symptomatic HHV8 infections without MCD.