Kaposi's sarcoma during immunosuppressive therapy for atopic dermatitis.
We describe an HIV-negative homosexual man who developed Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). He had CD4 lymphocytopenia during azathioprine and topical corticosteroid therapy for atopic dermatitits (AD). KS was observed after only 2 months of immunosuppressive therapy. No regression was observed despite discontinuation of immunosuppressive therapy and normalization of the CD4+ cell count. This patient appears to be the first case of KS associated with AD. Moreover, as our patient had been sexually inactive for 15 years, this case raises the questions about the latency and about the sexual transmission of a novel herpes-like virus (KHSHV) recently detected in all forms of KS.
Vandercam
B
B
Division of General Internal Medicine, St Luc University Hospital, Louvain Medical School, Brussels, Belgium.
Lachapelle
J M
JM
Janssens
P
P
Tennstedt
D
D
Lambert
M
M
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001624:Betamethasone Valerate / Q000009:adverse effects; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000502:physiology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D001624:Betamethasone Valerate; D001379:Azathioprine