The prognostic significance of facial lymphoedema in HIV-seropositive subjects with Kaposi sarcoma.
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.
Feller
L
L
Department of Periodontology and Oral Medicine, University of Limpopo School of Dentistry, Pretoria, South Africa. lfeller@medunsa.ac.za
Masipa
Jn
J
Wood
Nh
N
Raubenheimer
Ej
E
Lemmer
J
J