Two cases of Kaposi's sarcoma in renal and liver transplant recipients treated with interferon.
We report two cases of Kaposi's sarcoma in recipients of solid organ transplants, presenting (Case 1) 12 months after liver transplantation and (Case 2) 7 months after kidney transplantation. Both patients share the following features: natives from the Mediterranean area (Southern Italy), multiple immunosuppressive regimen, infection with hepatitis B and cytomegalovirus. During the 3 yr of follow-up after the diagnosis, their immunosuppressive regimen was reduced and they were treated with alpha interferon with remission of the clinical findings. The management of Kaposi's sarcoma in organ transplant recipients remains a controversial issue because of the risks of organ rejection associated with the reduction of immunosuppression and with the use of interferon.
Halmos
O
O
Department of Pathology, University of Padova, Italy.
Inturri
P
P
Galligioni
A
A
Di Landro
D
D
Rigotti
P
P
Tedeschi
U
U
Graziotto
A
A
Burra
P
P
Poletti
A
A
Rossaro
L
L
D000328:Adult; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000628:therapy*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D016572:Cyclosporine