PRAGUE, June 1 -- More than half of a group of patients with psoriasis tested positive for human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8), suggesting infection might play a role in the etiology of the disease, according to data reported here.
The prevalence of HHV-8 was more than four times higher in biopsy specimens of patients with psoriasis than in an age-matched control group without psoriasis, Samar Samoud, M.D., of Farhat Hached Hospital in Sousse, Tunisia, and colleagues said in a poster presentation at the International Congress of Dermatology.
Action Points
- Explain to patients that a type of herpes virus has been identified in skin samples from patients with psoriasis.
- The study involved a small number of patients from Tunisia, so the findings may not be applicable to North Americans.
- Point out that an association does not prove that a virus causes psoriasis.
- Note that this study was published as an abstract and presented orally at a conference. These data and conclusions should be considered to be preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
"Our data suggest for the first time that HHV-8 may play a role in psoriasis," the investigators concluded. "However, no conclusions can be drawn on the etiologic and pathogenetic role of HHV-8 in this disease. Further investigation of this association is needed."
Several viruses have been associated with provocation or exacerbation of psoriasis. Although the viruses have been detected in psoriatic skin, their role in the etiology and pathogenesis of the disease has not been elucidated.
HHV-8 has been identified in several proliferative diseases, including Kaposi sarcoma and body cavity-based B-cell lymphoma. Dr. Samoud and colleagues sought to determine whether it might also be associated with psoriasis, and if so, to what extent.
Skin samples were obtained from 40 patients with psoriasis, ages 12 to 76 and from 40 age-matched volunteers who did not have the skin condition.
Investigators used an immunofluorescence assay to identify HHV-8 antibodies in the specimens.
Dr. Samoud reported that specimens from 22 of 40 patients with psoriasis (55%) were positive for HHV-8 antibodies compared with five of 40 (12.5%) individuals in the control group (P<0.001).
However, when the investigators compared HHV-8 status with psoriasis disease activity, they found no correlation.
| Dr. Samoud and his co-investigators reported no competing interests. |
![author['full_name']](https://clf1.medpagetoday.com/media/images/author/charlesBankhead_188.jpg)
Primary Source
International Congress of Dermatology
Source Reference: Samoud S, et al "High prevalence of human herpes virus 8 infection in psoriasis" ICD 2009; Abstract P358.