title: The prognostic significance of facial lymphoedema in HIV-seropositive subjects with Kaposi sarcoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) is a multifocal angioproliferative neoplasm characterized by inflammation, oedema, neoangiogenesis and spindle cell proliferation. The pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated KS (HIV-KS) is multifactorial. HHV-8 is an essential factor but not in itself sufficient to cause HIV-KS, the development of which is influenced by HIV, by increased production of cytokines and by growth factors. Whether HIV-KS is a true malignancy or a reactive hyperplastic inflammatory condition is debatable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oedema of the face, legs and hands is a prominent feature of HIV-KS and is probably caused by lymphoedema related to the HIV-KS lesions. The cases of two HIV-seropositive subjects with KS-associated facial lymphoedema are reported. Extensive oral HIV-KS in association with facial oedema in the absence of anti-retroviral treatment appears to be an indication of a poor prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology and Oral Medicine, University of Limpopo School of Dentistry, Pretoria, South Africa. lfeller@medunsa.ac.za
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Feller
authors.forename: Jn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Masipa
authors.forename: Nh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: Ej
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Raubenheimer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lemmer