Immunomodulatory treatment with low-dose interferon-alpha and oral retinoic acid in lymphangioma-like Kaposi's sarcoma.
BACKGROUND
The presence of lymphangiectasis without the characteristic spindle cell proliferation may lead to diagnostic difficulties in Kaposi's sarcoma. Although the literary data mention that the lymphangioma-like tumors may occur in Kaposi's sarcoma, there have been few specific reports and case presentations published.


METHODS
A case of lymphangioma-like Kaposi's sarcoma in association with IgG/lambda type paraproteinaemia is reported in a 60-year-old man. The HSV8 DNA sequence could be detected by PCR analysis from lesional skin.


CONCLUSIONS
The beneficial effect of alpha-2 interferon (4.5 million units per week) combined with retinoic treatment (0.5 mg/body weight of isotretinoin) caused the regression of the skin rashes while improving the values of immunological tests (T cell function, quantity of paraproteins). The patient's improved general condition and the ameliorating immunological parameters were due to the combination of two regimens applied in a low-dose the alpha-2 interferon (tumor regression) and the oral isotretinoid (antitumor activity, reduction of IL-6 receptor display) treatment.
Somos
S
S
Dermatological Department, Medical University of Pécs, Hungary. som@freemail.c3.hu
Farkas
B
B
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains / Q000097:blood; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015474:Isotretinoin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008200:Lymphangiectasis / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000209:etiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D015474:Isotretinoin