AIDS-related Gastrointestinal Kaposi Sarcoma in Korea: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a vascular neoplasm, which is fairly prevalent in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients. Mucocutaneous and lymph node involvements are characteristic features of KS in AIDS patients. The involvement of gastrointestinal tract occurs in 40% of KS patients and leads to significant morbidity and mortality. In the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era, the rate of AIDS related KS has fallen with control of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viremia. However, it is still recognized as the primary AIDS-defining illness, and the proportion of AIDS diagnoses made due to KS ranged from 4.1% to 7.5%. In Korea, AIDS-related KS has been report in low rate incidence. Its gastrointestinal involvements are rarely reported. To date, five cases have been recorded in Korea. Herein, we present an additional case of gastrointestinal KS as the AIDS-defining illness and review of the Korean medical literature. (Korean J Gastroenterol 2012;60:166-171)

Caracterización clínica y endoscópica del sarcoma de Kaposi gastrointestinal en una institución del suroccidente colombiano entre 2011 y 2020

“…La principal localización de las lesiones fue el tracto gastrointestinal superior, especialmente en la orofaringe. Esta información concuerda con diversas series de casos en las que también fue más frecuente el compromiso a este nivel (6)(7)(8)(9)11,12,22) . En el presente estudio el eritema maculopapular fue el hallazgo endoscópico más repetido; no obstante, en la literatura es la lesión polipoide/nodular la más común (8,13) .…”

“…En la literatura existen series que describen las características clínicas, endoscópicas e histopatológicas de los pacientes con SK-GI; sin embargo, dichos estudios se desarrollaron en poblaciones diferentes a las latinoamericanas (7,8,13) . En Colombia se destacan algunas publicaciones que han detallado el panorama del SK epidémico y otras que reportan casos de SK-GI (14)(15)(16)(17) .…”

“…Las lesiones orales en el paladar y las encías son comunes y pueden llevar a disfagia e infecciones secundarias. El tracto gastrointestinal es la localización extracutánea más común y sus lesiones usualmente son asintomáticas; en ocasiones producen dolor abdominal, pérdida de peso, náuseas, emesis, malabsorción, diarrea, sangrado o causar obstrucción y su presencia se confirma con endoscopia (2,(5)(6)(7)(8) .…”

Visceral Kaposi’s Sarcoma Presenting as Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding

“…Although the mainstay of treatment is initiating/continuing HAART, early diagnosis is important in severe cases for which additional therapy is both needed and available [ 6 , 7 , 12 ]. Guidelines for endoscopic investigation may help prevent diagnosis of GI-KS at later stages of disease when combination therapy would no longer be tolerated [ 20 ]. Although unusual, our case illustrates the need for increased awareness of GI-KS as a potentially dangerous complication of HIV infection and as a possible etiology of upper GI bleeding.…”

Recapitulation of acquired immuno deficiency syndrome associated Kaposi's sarcoma

“…KS is one of the AIDS-defining illnesses, and the diagnosis of AIDS made due to KS is ranging from 4.1% to 7.5%. [4] Fortunately, initiation of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in AIDS associated KS at early stage shows a definite clinical and histological regression of KS, leading to increase the life span of the patients. This article elaborates about AIDS associated KS in detail.…”