title: Kaposi's sarcoma in patients with ulcerative colitis receiving immunosuppressive drugs: report of a case.
abstract: Kaposi's sarcoma is an unusual tumor principally affecting the skin of the lower extremities. Although the association between Kaposi's sarcoma and renal transplant has been well documented, there are few Kaposi's sarcoma cases in the literature associated with ulcerative colitis or other inflammatory bowel diseases. This report presents a patient with ulcerative colitis who developed Kaposi's sarcoma following treatment with long-term medium-dose azathioprine and additional corticosteroids. Kaposi's sarcoma is a rare complication in inflammatory bowel diseases that may (or may not) be related to immunosuppression. Hence, immunomodulatory agents should be planned carefully in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases and avoided if they are not essentially necessary. Cases of colorectal Kaposi's sarcoma complicating inflammatory bowel disease should be managed with a conservative approach and discontinuation of the immunosuppressive treatment.
authors.affiliation: Gazi University, School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine Division of Medical Oncology, Ankara, Turkey. caretta06@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Bülent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cetın
authors.forename: Süleyman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Büyükberber
authors.forename: Işılay Bilge
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.forename: Uğur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Coşkun
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beneklı
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000532:radiotherapy
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D001379:Azathioprine