Biomaterial Database

AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma: a review of its pathogenesis and treatment. 1988

R T Mitsuyasu

Department of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90024.

One of the most unusual manifestations of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is the cutaneous tumor, Kaposi's sarcoma. This rare and indolent tumor was once thought of as an interesting curiosity in Europe and Africa prior to the recognition of AIDS. Currently, however, this tumor accounts for approximately one quarter of all cases of AIDS recognized in the United States, and while not the proximate cause of death in most cases, Kaposi's sarcoma may cause severe physical and psychological morbidity in many patients. Treatment approaches must incorporate an understanding of the severe immunologic impairment in these individuals as well as their relatively poor tolerance to the myelosuppressive effects of many therapeutic agents. Treatment for Kaposi's sarcoma includes chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and more recently antiretroviral agents and immunomodulators in patients with indolent disease. Prophylactic treatment for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia as well as nutritional and psychological support, and pain control are also important aspects of the care of these patients. This review will focus on the pathogenesis and natural history of Kaposi's sarcoma and review the treatment approaches and limitations of therapy for this tumor.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000163	Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome	An acquired defect of cellular immunity associated with infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a CD4-positive T-lymphocyte count under 200 cells/microliter or less than 14% of total lymphocytes, and increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections and malignant neoplasms. Clinical manifestations also include emaciation (wasting) and dementia. These elements reflect criteria for AIDS as defined by the CDC in 1993.	AIDS,Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Acquired,Immunologic Deficiency Syndrome, Acquired,Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome,Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome,Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome,Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndromes,Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndromes,Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome, Acquired,Immuno-Deficiency Syndromes, Acquired,Immunodeficiency Syndromes, Acquired,Syndrome, Acquired Immuno-Deficiency,Syndrome, Acquired Immunodeficiency,Syndromes, Acquired Immuno-Deficiency,Syndromes, Acquired Immunodeficiency
D012514	Sarcoma, Kaposi	A multicentric, malignant neoplastic vascular proliferation characterized by the development of bluish-red cutaneous nodules, usually on the lower extremities, most often on the toes or feet, and slowly increasing in size and number and spreading to more proximal areas. The tumors have endothelium-lined channels and vascular spaces admixed with variably sized aggregates of spindle-shaped cells, and often remain confined to the skin and subcutaneous tissue, but widespread visceral involvement may occur. Kaposi's sarcoma occurs spontaneously in Jewish and Italian males in Europe and the United States. An aggressive variant in young children is endemic in some areas of Africa. A third form occurs in about 0.04% of kidney transplant patients. There is also a high incidence in AIDS patients. (From Dorland, 27th ed & Holland et al., Cancer Medicine, 3d ed, pp2105-7) HHV-8 is the suspected cause.	Kaposi Sarcoma,Kaposi's Sarcoma,Multiple Idiopathic Pigmented Hemangiosarcoma,Kaposis Sarcoma,Sarcoma, Kaposi's