title: Kaposi's sarcoma and HIV.
abstract: Recently published informed debate affords strong indication that in patients with the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, HIV cannot, directly or indirectly, be the cause of Kaposi's sarcoma. This paper provides reasons for disallowing a current alternative theory that Kaposi's sarcoma is due to an unidentified sexually transmitted infectious agent and proposes instead that Kaposi's sarcoma is the result of prolonged and repeated exposure to nitrites and/or semen. If this alternative hypothesis is strengthened by confirmation of its predictions then the relationship of HIV to Kaposi's sarcoma, one of the principal AIDS-associated diseases, becomes somewhat remote. This may facilitate a shift of emphasis and encourage the development of alternative therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics, Royal Perth Hospital, Western Australia.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papadopulos-Eleopulos
authors.forename: V F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Papadimitriou
mesh_terms: D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D009573:Nitrites / Q000009:adverse effects; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology*; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
chemical_list: D009573:Nitrites