Perplexity on why HHV-8 may be a red herring In K.S.
The argument that HHV-8 is a red herring in Kaposi’s Sarcoma (KS) and AIDS research centers on several key criticisms rooted in clinical, epidemiological, and pathological evidence. This position suggests HHV-8’s discovery misdirected scientific focus away from deeper causal mechanisms, and that HHV-8 is often merely a marker, not the central driver of KS or AIDS pathology. Epidemiological Discrepancies HHV-8 prevalence often fails to match KS incidence rates. Significant populations have high HHV-8 seropositivity but extremely low KS occurrence, undermining the virus’s role as a sole or direct causal agent. KS has emerged in populations and cases where HHV-8 prevalence is low or undetectable, further suggesting other agents or processes are involved. Pathological and Diagnostic Doubts Some classic and atypical KS cases are consistently HHV-8-negative by modern and sensitive laboratory techniques, challenging the necessity and sufficiency of HHV-8 in tumor formation. HHV-...