Talk:Human papillomavirus infection

"Oropharyngeal cancer"

Apologies if I'm missing something obvious (I'm not an expert in the field or even health/biology for that matter), but based on information I found on the net it would seem there's more to HPV and "Oropharyngeal cancer" than just type 16. Quoting from this meta-study : "The most common HPV type detected in oral cancers is HPV16. A notable outlier is a study from South Africa which detected only HPV18, and not HPV16, in patients with oral cancer. HPV18 was detected in a smaller percentage of oral cancers, some oral carcinomas had dual infections with HPV16/18. Rarer types detected in oral cancers were HPV8, HPV31, HPV38, and HPV66." Robert1dB (talk) 23:07, 29 November 2022 (UTC)

References

Redundant statement

"While cases of warts have been described since the time of ancient Greece, their viral cause was not known until 1907." occurs twice in the article. Mansell (talk) 06:35, 19 March 2023 (UTC)

"Cervical Cancer"

"HPV is necessary for cervical cancer to occur." Looking through the citation linked for this information, there is no information which supports this claim. There are other articles which say HPV negative cervical cancer can occur. Stew240 (talk) 09:38, 18 April 2023 (UTC)

References

Discovered

Why no mention of when HPV was discovered ? 70.190.65.59 (talk) 04:41, 26 April 2023 (UTC)

Reference 13 (link): "The page you requested was removed."

Hi, reference 13, "5 Things You Might Not Know About Human Papillomavirus":

https://blogs.cdc.gov/publichealthmatters/2016/01/5-things-you-might-not-know-about-human-papillomavirus/

Website says: «The page you requested was removed.» riveravaldez (talk) 16:32, 24 January 2025 (UTC)

Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8)-Associated Conditions

Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), also known as Kaposi Sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), is a DNA virus in the herpesvirus family. It is the causative agent of Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) and is also associated with other rare malignancies and lymphoproliferative disorders, particularly in individuals with compromised immune systems.¹ Other associated conditions include Primary Effusion Lymphomas (PELs) and Multicentric Castleman Disease (MCD). While HHV-8 infection is generally asymptomatic in healthy individuals, it can lead to serious illness in immunosuppressed patients, such as those with HIV/AIDS or organ transplants. Understanding HHV-8 and its associated diseases is crucial for improving diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies, particularly in immunocompromised populations.¹

Kaposi Sarcoma (KS)

Kaposi Sarcoma is a cancer caused by human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), also known as Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV).² It forms in blood and lymphatic vessels and often appears as red, purple, or brown lesions on the skin, mucous membranes, or internal organs. In healthy individuals, HHV-8 typically does not cause disease, but in immunocompromised people, especially those with HIV/AIDS, it can lead to tumor development.²

There are four major types:

• Epidemic (AIDS-related): The most common type in the U.S., especially during the peak of the AIDS crisis. Incidence has declined with antiretroviral therapy.²
• Classic (Mediterranean): Affects older men from Mediterranean and Eastern European regions, likely due to immune aging and early-life HHV-8 exposure.²
• Endemic (African): Found in sub-Saharan Africa, often affecting children and young adults.²
• Transplant-related: Occurs in patients on immunosuppressive drugs after transplants, either from reactivation of latent infection or transmission from donors.²

Symptoms include skin and mucous membrane lesions, internal organ involvement, and lymph node swelling. In severe cases, internal lesions may cause bleeding and impair organ function.³

Diagnosis may require physical exams, biopsies, and imaging studies. Because of its rarity, multiple evaluations are sometimes needed.²

There is no vaccine for Kaposi Sarcoma. Prevention involves reducing the risk of HHV-8 and maintaining immune health, particularly by preventing or managing HIV infection.⁴ Preventative measures include safe sex, avoiding shared needles, and use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Antiretroviral therapy (HAART) helps prevent progression to AIDS and reduces the risk of Kaposi Sarcoma.⁵ Antivirals like ganciclovir may also suppress HHV-8 activity but are not primary treatments.⁵

Treatment focuses on symptom management and may include immune restoration, localized therapies (such as cryotherapy or radiation), chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. Surgery is generally avoided due to risk of new lesions.⁵

The five-year relative survival rate is approximately 72%, and outcomes have improved with advances in HIV treatment. Mortality often results from underlying conditions like AIDS rather than Kaposi Sarcoma itself.²

Primary Effusion Lymphoma (PEL)

Primary Effusion Lymphoma (PEL) is a rare and aggressive cancer of B cells, a type of white blood cell involved in the immune system. It is caused by human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) and often occurs in people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS or patients who have received an organ transplant.⁶

PEL typically does not form solid tumors. Instead, it causes a buildup of cancerous fluid, called effusions, in areas of the body that naturally contain fluid, such as the space around the lungs (pleural cavity), the heart (pericardial cavity), or the abdomen (peritoneal cavity). In rare cases, tumors may appear outside these fluid-filled spaces.⁶

About 80% of people with PEL are also infected with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), another virus that may play a role in the development of the disease, although its exact role is not fully understood.⁶

PEL is difficult to treat and has a poor prognosis. There is no standard treatment, but doctors often use combinations of chemotherapy drugs such as CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone). New treatments being studied include adding drugs like lenalidomide and rituximab, or using immunotherapy options for patients whose disease comes back after treatment.⁶

Multicentric Castleman Disease (MCD)

Multicentric Castleman Disease (MCD) is a rare illness where the body makes too many immune cells, leading to swollen lymph nodes in different parts of the body and widespread inflammation. It often causes fever, chills, fatigue, low blood counts, and swelling of the liver and spleen.⁷ These symptoms are caused by an overload of inflammatory molecules in the body, especially one called interleukin-6 (IL-6), which the immune system uses to signal a response.⁸

MCD is grouped into different types. One type, called HHV-8-associated MCD, is linked to infection with human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), especially in people with HIV or other conditions that weaken the immune system. HHV-8 is found in nearly all HIV-positive people with MCD and about half of those without HIV.⁸

MCD can sometimes look like a bacterial infection, so it may be hard to diagnose without special testing.⁷ If not treated quickly, it can worsen rapidly and may even lead to conditions like sepsis causing organs to fail. In some cases, MCD may progress to cancer called large B-cell lymphoma.⁸

Treatment for MCD depends on the cause. For HHV-8-associated MCD, doctors may use medications that block IL-6 (like siltuximab or tocilizumab), rituximab (which targets certain immune cells), antiviral drugs, or chemotherapy, especially for severe or advanced cases.⁸

Sources:

[1] Rewane, Ayesan, and Prasanna Tadi. “Herpes Virus Type 8.” StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf, 17 July 2023, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556023.

[2] “Kaposi Sarcoma.” Johns Hopkins Medicine, 28 Sept. 2023, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/sarcoma/kaposi-sarcoma.

[3] Mayo Clinic Staff. “Kaposi Sarcoma.” Mayo Clinic, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/kaposis-sarcoma/symptoms-causes/syc-20577303.

[4] “Can Kaposi Sarcoma Be Prevented?” American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org/cancer/types/kaposi-sarcoma/causes-risks-prevention/prevention.html.

[5] “Kaposi Sarcoma Treatment.” Cancer.gov, 17 May 2023, www.cancer.gov/types/soft-tissue-sarcoma/patient/kaposi-treatment-pdq.

[6] Primary Effusion Lymphoma. www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/lymphomaeffusion.html.

[7] Guayboon, Theerajet, et al. “Human Herpesvirus 8-associated Multicentric Castleman Disease in a Patient With Advanced HIV Infection.” Medicine, vol. 100, no. 49, Dec. 2021, p. e28077. https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000028077.

[8] “HHV-8/KSHV-associated multicentric Castleman disease.” UpToDate, www.uptodate.com/contents/hhv-8-kshv-associated-multicentric-castleman-disease. Parip16 (talk) 19:04, 5 May 2025 (UTC)