Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) is a cancer caused by infection with human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8). It causes purple, brown, or bluish-red tumours that look like sores on the skin. It may also affect the internal organs and the mucous membranes lining the mouth, nose, and anus.
Before HIV infection became widespread, Kaposi’s sarcoma was uncommon and usually only found in elderly men, usually of Italian, Jewish, or African descent. It was also infrequently found in people who had received organ transplants and were taking immunotherapy to avoid organ rejection.
With the development of the HIV/AIDS epidemic KS became the most common cancer found in people with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), occurring as a complication of advanced HIV disease.
In people with HIV, the tumour grows and spreads more quickly than in elderly men without HIV. As HIV infection has now become better controlled, KS is once again becoming an infrequent condition.
The most likely cause of Kaposi’s sarcoma is infection with HHV8 combined with the weakening of defense mechanisms that normally prevent this virus from multiplying.
While the condition is most prevalent among sexually active men who have sex with men, the improvement in the medical treatment of HIV has drastically reduced the number of people developing this condition.
Treatment of KS mainly involves treating the underlying condition that damaged the immune system in the first place. In the case of HIV/AIDS, this involves administration of combination anti-HIV medications that can suppress the HIV virus and allow restoration of immune function.
For people whose immune function cannot be restored (such as those who have had organ transplantation or are receiving cancer chemotherapy) or those rare individuals in whom no cause for immune suppression can be identified, KS is treated by physical removal of the tumour or lesion (cryotherapy in this case), chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination. When internal organs are affected, medications such as alpha interferon or medications used in the treatment of cancer such as liposomal anthracyclines or paclitaxel are occasionally used.
Because Kaposi’s sarcoma is likely caused by an interaction between immune suppression and exposure to the sexually transmitted infection HHV8, the precautions taken against other sexually transmitted infections should also be taken to try to prevent Kaposi’s sarcoma.
Practicing safer sex can also protect you from becoming infected with HIV, the virus that causes HIV/AIDS. Since HIV infection increases the risk of Kaposi’s sarcoma, practicing safer sex can help reduce your risk of this cancer.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2025. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Kaposis-Sarcoma
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