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KS related clarifications needed!! What causes it? how is it spread? ...
Oct 11, 2002
Hi Dr.Dezube,
Thanking you very much for your earlier answer. Some more clarifications needed please:
1. In most websites, i found that KS is partly caused by HHV8 virus. Partly means...what are the other causes for having KS?
2. Transmission of KS too is confusing. Can a HIV+ person get KS with casual contact or through air and water?
Thanking you very much for your precious time and valuable life saving answers.
Regards,
NM
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Response from Dr. Dezube
KS is caused by the HHV8 (human herpesvirus-8, also known as the Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus). However, as your query indicates, you need something in addition to HHV8 to develop KS. HHV8 is a pretty common infection, particularly in the gay community, but also in certain parts of the world (e.g. the Mediterranean region). So the fact that not everyone who is infected with HHV8 develops KS would indicate that something else is needed. What are the other things that bring out KS?-- The most important thing which brings out KS is immunosupression. This is why HIV-infected patients and patients who take immunosuppressive drugs after organ transplant are particularly likely to develop KS. Inflammation/infection can also lead to KS. So some patients with HHV8 infection and HIV infection who come in with an opportunistic infection (e.g. PCP pneumonia) develop KS at the time of their infection. Steroids (e.g. the drug prednisone) can also bring out KS. I've had patients put on prednisone for their poison ivy who went on to develop KS.
In a recent New England Journal of Medicine article, researchers showed that deep kissing ("French" kissing) is one of the most efficient means of spreading HHV8. However, again I want to emphasize that contracting HHV8 does NOT necessarily mean that one will develop KS. It takes something in addition to HHV8 infection to bring out those KS lesions.
In scientific jargon, we say that HHV8 infection is necessary, but not sufficient to cause KS. This statement means that you must be HHV8 infected to develop KS, but that HHV8 infection is not enough in itself to cause the KS.
You can not get HHV8 infection by casual contact, through the air, or through the water.
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Response from Dr. Dezube
