title: Kaposi sarcoma in solid organ transplant recipients: a single center report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human herpes virus (HHV8) is associated with Castleman's disease, primary effusion lymphoma, and the Kaposi's sarcoma (KS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Among 3815 solid organ transplants performed at our center between 1977 and 2003, five patients (0.1%) were identified with KS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were one cardiac, one liver, and three renal allograft recipients of median age of 52 (range 38 to 60) years, three of whom were females. Three patients were of Italian and one of Turkish descent; only one patient was a native Austrian. The onset of the disease was 2.0, 7.5, 7.8, 9.4 months, and 22 years posttransplant. Diagnosis of KS was based in all cases on histology. The heart recipient developed a tumor on the planta pedis; one renal recipient, on both legs. The liver and the two remaining renal recipients presented with disseminated disease. Treatment in all cases consisted of reduction in immunosuppression, together with surgery (n = 1), chemotherapy (n = 1), or irradiation (n = 2). Furthermore, immunosuppression was switched in two cases from Tacrolimus to Sirolimus. In the liver recipient a complete response was achieved; he died, however, due to noncompliance followed by graft failure. One renal recipient died without evidence of recurrent disease from myocardial infarction. The cardiac and two renal recipients are alive between 4 months and 17 years with well-functioning grafts and no evidence of recurrent disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HHV8-associated lesions seem to be extremely rare in the Central European transplant population. Nevertheless, awareness of KS is important for early diagnosis and optimal treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boeckle
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boesmueller
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wiesmayr
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mark
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rieger
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tabarelli
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Graziadei
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hoefer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Antretter
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stelzmueller
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krugmann
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zangerle
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huemer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Poelzl
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Margreiter
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bonatti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000379:methods; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents