Rituximab-Induced Kaposi Sarcoma in HIV-Negative Patients: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a low-grade mesenchymal angioproliferative disorder that requires infection with human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) for it to develop. It is commonly seen in HIV-positive patients and rarely in immunosuppressed HIV-negative patients. Rituximab is a monoclonal anti-CD20 chimeric murine/human immunoglobulin G antibody used to treat B cell lymphoproliferative diseases as well as a variety of autoimmune disorders. Several cases of iatrogenic Kaposi sarcoma (iKS) have been described after rituximab treatment.The purpose of this narrative review is to identify the presence of common clinical characteristics among rituximab-induced KS patients that could facilitate better management of this rare condition.