title: [Diagnosis and treatment of HIV-related Kaposi's sarcoma].
abstract: A 42-year-old heterosexual man presented with bluish-purple spots on his skin and in his mouth cavity that had been present for a few months; a 48-year-old homosexual man had painful lymphadenopathy in the groins and left axilla. Both men appeared to have a Kaposi's sarcoma and to be HIV-positive. During highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and radiotherapy or chemotherapy, both the AIDS parameters and the skin lesions improved. Kaposi's sarcoma is AIDS-defining in HIV-seropositive patients. Human herpesvirus-8 infection seems to play a role in the development of Kaposi's sarcoma. The incidence of Kaposi's sarcoma has declined since the introduction of HAART. Nowadays, Kaposi's sarcoma is frequently the presenting symptom of HIV-seropositivity. Patients present with purple cutaneous lesions and/or generalised lymphadenopathy. Visceral lesions are associated with a shorter median survival. The treatment of Kaposi's sarcoma is palliative, whereas immune restitution can lead to regression of the sarcoma.
authors.affiliation: Universitair Medisch Centrum, Groningen. a.k.l.reyners@int.umcg.nl
authors.forename: A K L
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Reyners
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Sprenger
authors.forename: A J H
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Suurmeijer
authors.forename: W T A
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: van der Graaf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000473:pathology; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*