Kaposi's Sarcoma and Herpesvirus-Like DNA Sequences in Sensory Ganglia

To the Editor: Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), also known as Kaposi's sarcoma–associated herpesvirus (KSHV), has recently been proposed as a possible cofactor in the development of Kaposi's sarcoma. 1 Specific sequences of the virus were detected by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in over 90 percent of Kaposi's sarcoma lesions, regardless of their association with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). 2 Nevertheless, except for the documented tropism of KSHV for CD19-positive circulating B lymphocytes, 3 little is known about sites of viral latency and persistence in infected hosts. In immunocompromised patients, Kaposi's sarcoma frequently presents as disseminated lesions with a varicelliform distribution (i.e., . . .