Risk of Kaposi's sarcoma and sexual practices associated with faecal contact in homosexual or bisexual men with AIDS

Risk factors for Kaposi's-sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV/HHV-8) seropositivity in a cohort of homosexual men, 1981–1996

“…This corresponds very well with other studies of risk factors for AIDS-related KS among homosexual men. Already in the beginning of the 1980s, Marmor and colleagues reported AIDS-related KS to be significantly associated with the practice of receptive anal intercourse (Marmor et al, 1982), while others subsequently reported increased risk of KS among HIV-positive men whose sexual practices involved fecal contact (Darrow et al, 1992;Lifson et al, 1990;Beral et al, 1992). We were not able to establish a particular risk for KSHV/HHV-8 seropositivity associated with rimming, but other studies on risk factors for AIDSrelated KS have been somewhat contradictory on this point (Lifson et al, 1990;Beral et al, 1992).…”

Platelet activating factor produced in vitro by Kaposi's sarcoma cells induces and sustains in vivo angiogenesis.

“…The early phase of disease is characterized by an infiltrate of leukocytes and a prominent angiogenesis, which is crucial to the growth and progression of KS (8)(9)(10)(11)(12). The current hypothesis to explain the behavior of KS is an imbalance in the network of soluble mediators caused by HIV-1, other viruses, immunosuppressive treatment, or genetic factors (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18). The tat transgenic mice develop lesions similar to KS ( 19), suggesting that this viral protein can be a factor which triggers the imbalance in the network of soluble mediators.…”

The association of neoplasms and HIV infection in the correctional setting

“…KS occurs most frequently among gay men, and is rarely seen in people who acquire HIV parenterally, such as injection drug users, or people with haemophilia 5 . In fact, the rates of KS are reportedly 10 times higher in homosexual or bisexual men than among other HIV transmission groups 19 . Although it was not possible to assess the association of KS with sexual risk behaviours in the Texas prison population, it is noteworthy that all 14 cases of KS reported in the TDCJ occurred in males.…”