AIDS Case Studies


CASE 6: Kaposi's sarcoma


Clinical History:

A 30-year-old man began to notice the appearance of small reddish-purple patches on the skin of his face and hands. These gradually increased in size and number and then involved the skin of the trunk and lower extremities.

Answers:

  1. What diagnosis do you suspect?

    2. These lesions are typical of Kaposi's sarcoma, with both skin and visceral involvement.

  2. What laboratory testing should be requested when you suspect such a diagnosis?

    3. The appearance of KS strongly suggests HIV infection, so an HIV test should be done. If positive, the patient has AIDS.

  3. What findings would you suspect in a clinical history?

    4. Most patients with KS have a risk factor of homosexuality/bisexuality. KS has an association with infection by human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8), and this may account for the distribution of KS in many patients similar to a sexually transmitted disease.

  4. How often does visceral organ involvement occur in this disease?

    5. Eventually, about three-fourths of patients with KS develop visceral lesions, and these are the ones that could potentially kill the patient, particularly with extensive lung involvement. Sometimes KS in the GI tract can obstruct, ulcerate, or perforate. Of course, persons with AIDS typically develop opportunistic infections.