July 2017 Vol.5 No.4

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Original Research Article

Human Herpes Virus 8 (HHV-8) – associated lymphoproliferative disorders in Kampala, Uganda

Lynnette K Tumwine^{1, 3*}, Robert Lukande^{1, 3}, Weiqiang Zhao^{2, 3} and Leona W Ayers^{2, 3}

¹Department of Pathology, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
²The Ohio State University, Department of Pathology, Innovation Centre, Suite 2046, 2001 Polaris Parkway, Columbus, OH 43240, USA
³Sub-Saharan Africa Lymphoma Consortium (SSALC/NCI)

*Corresponding Author’s E-mail: tumwinelynnette@yahoo.com/lyntumwine@gmail.com
Phone: +256 772 494 119
fax: +256 414 530 412

Accepted May 15, 2017

Abstract

Both Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1) and Human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) are endemic in sub Saharan Africa. While the prevalence of HIV-1 ranges from 6-10% that of HHV-8 ranges from 30-60%. Apart from one case of primary effusion lymphoma and another of diffuse large B cell lymphoma, HHV-8 related lymphoproliferative disorders such as Multicentric Castleman’s Disease and plasmablastic lymphoma have, hitherto, not been described in Uganda. To describe cases of HHV8 associated lymphoproliferative disorders seen at the department of Pathology, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. We retrospectively analyzed pathologic tissue obtained from 456 formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue blocks with a diagnosis of malignant lymphoma or adenopathy from the Department of Pathology, Makerere University, from 2009-2011. They were examined using Haematoxylin and eosin and Giemsa stains for morphology. They were further evaluated using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Of the 456 biopsies studied, 5 tested positive for HHV 8, and five had Castleman’s’ disease (mainly multicentric). The remainder had a spectrum of lymphoproliferative disorders. HHV8-associated lympho-proliferative disorders occur in Ugandan patients infected with HIV that is endemic in the country. Their diagnosis depends on a high index of suspicion and use of immunohistochemistry. Clinicians and pathologists should keep them in mind as they ponder the diagnosis of HIV infected patients with lymphadenopathy and B-symptoms.

Key words: HHV8, lymphoproliferative, Castleman’s disease, HIV, Uganda