Oral HIV-Associated Kaposi Sarcoma: A Clinical Study from the Ga-Rankuwa Area, South Africa.

2012

Khammissa RA, Pantanowitz L, Feller L.

Source

Department of Periodontology and Oral Medicine, University of Limpopo, Medunsa Campus, Pretoria 0204, South Africa.

Abstract

Background. Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is one of the most common neoplasms diagnosed in HIV-seropositive subjects. Oral involvement is frequent and is associated with a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to characterize the features of oral HIV-KS in patients from Ga-Rankuwa, South Africa. 

Methods. All cases with confirmed oral HIV-KS treated at the oral medicine clinic in Ga-Rankuwa from 2004 to 2010 were included in this retrospective study. Differences between males and females with oral HIV-KS in relation to HIV infection status, to oral KS presentation and to survival rates were statistically analysed. 

Results. Twenty (54%) of the 37 patients in the study were females and 17 (46%) were males. In 21 patients (57%), the initial presentation of HIV-KS was in the mouth. Other than the fact that females presented with larger (≥10 mm) oral KS lesions (P = 0.0004), there were no statistically significant gender differences. Significantly more patients presented with multiple oral HIV-KS lesions than with single lesions (P = 0.0003). Nine patients (24%) developed concomitant facial lymphoedema, and these patients had a significantly lower CD4+ T-cell count (28 cells/mm(3)) compared to the rest of the group (130 cells/mm(3)) (P = 0.01). The average CD4+ T-cell count of the patients who died (64 cells/mm(3)) was significantly lower (P = 0.0004), there were no statistically significant gender differences. Significantly more patients presented with multiple oral HIV-KS lesions than with single lesions (P = 0.016) at the time of oral-KS presentation than of those who survived (166  cells/mm(3)). 

CONCLUSIONS: In Ga-Rankuwa, South Africa where HIV-KS is prevalent, oral KS affects similarly males and females. A low CD4+ T-cell count at the time of oral HIV-KS diagnosis and the development of facial lymphoedema during the course of HIV-KS disease portends a poor prognosis.

NIH

Pulmonary kaposi sarcoma in AIDS.

October 2012

Sumedh S. Hoskote, MD AFFILIATIONS  Department of Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY , Vishal P. Patel, DO Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY

A 34-year-old man presented to the hospital with a productive cough, dyspnea, subjective fever, chills, and myalgias. Fever, tachycardia, tachypnea, and severe hypoxemia were noted on arrival. Examination revealed a frail, diaphoretic man in considerable respiratory distress, with diffuse bilateral rales and rhonchi; a violaceous, raised rash over the limbs and trunk was also noted. Findings on chest radiography were suggestive of multilobar pneumonia. A rapid oral antibody test for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) returned a positive result.

Computed tomography of the chest showed striking flame-shaped opacities and spicular thickening of the bronchovascular bundles in all lobes (panels A, B, and C, arrows). These findings are characteristic of pulmonary Kaposi sarcoma (KS).¹ In our patient, the diagnosis was confirmed by bronchoscopy and skin biopsy. Computed tomographic features of KS are extremely helpful in guiding the initial management of HIV-infected patients presenting with symptoms of pneumonia.

Mayo Clinic

Sézary syndrome, Kaposi sarcoma and generalized dermatophytosis 15 years after sulfur mustard gas exposure.

Sept 2012

Emadi SN, Babamahmoodi F, Poursaleh Z, Sayad-Noori SS, Soroush MR, Maleki AR, Izadi M, Khodaei-Ardakan MR, Emadi SE.

Source

Chemical Injuries Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ; Skin Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran ; Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The relationship between compromised immune system and the development of malignancy, generalized dermatitis, and infection after sulfur mustard gas exposure has been established.

MAIN OBSERVATION:

We introduce a 58-year-old man with an abrupt, de novo and erythrodermic eruption in 2002 that was previously exposed to sulfur mustard during the Iran - Iraq war in 1987. Six weeks after the onset of diffuse eruption, he developed papules on the glans penis and generalized dermatophytosis. A biopsy of his eruption was consistent with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma/Sézary syndrome. A complete blood count demonstrated leukocytosis, eosinophilia and atypical lymphocytosis. Subsequently, Sézary syndrome was confirmed and T-cell count with increased CD4/CD8 in flow cytometry. The biopsy of his penile papules was consistent with Kaposi's sarcoma.

CONCLUSION:

These findings suggest a causative relationship between sulfur mustard gas exposure, cutaneous T cell lymphoma and immune compromised state with opportunistic infections.

PubMed - Journal of Dermatological Case Reports

miRNAs and usRNAs Discovered in Kaposi's Sarcoma-associated Herpesvirus Virions.

Sept 2012

Lin X, Li X, Liang D, Lan K.

Source

Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200025, China.

Abstract

It is widely held that any given virus uses only one type of nucleic acids for genetic information storage. However, this consensus has been challenged a little bit by several recent studies showing that many RNA species are present within a range of DNA viruses that include Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). RNAs extracted from purified DNA virus particles exhibit great diversity in terms of length, abundance, temporal expression, cellular localization, and coding capacity during viral infection. In addition to known RNA species, the current study showed that small regulatory RNAs were present in KSHV virion. A large number of viral and cellular miRNAs, as well as unusual small RNAs (usRNAs), were detected in KSHV virion by using deep sequencing. Both viral and host miRNAs detected in small RNAs extracted from KSHV virions were further shown to co-localize with KSHV virion directly by in situ hybridization (ISH)-electron microscopy (EM) (ISH-EM). Some of these miRNAs were differentially present in the host cells and KSHV virions, suggesting that they are not randomly present in KSHV virions. The virional miRNAs could be transported into host cells and they are biologically functional during de novo viral infection. Our study revealed miRNAs and usRNAs as a novel group of component in KSHV virion.

Journal of Virology

Myasthenia gravis developing in an HIV-negative patient with Kaposi's sarcoma.

Sept 2012

Mantero V, Mascolo M, Bandettini di Poggio M, Caponnetto C, Pardini M.

Source

Department of Neurosciences, Niguarda Ca' Granda Hospital, Piazza Ospedale Maggiore 3, 20162, Milan, Italy, vittorio.mantero@ospedaleniguarda.it.

Abstract

Myasthenia gravis is a disorder of neuromuscular transmission caused by autoimmune mechanisms. We reported a possible association between seropositive myasthenia gravis and Kaposi's sarcoma in a HIV-negative subject and the observed interactions between the treatment regimen for these two conditions. A 62-year-old man came to our attention for ocular myasthenia gravis. He suffered from a classic form of Kaposi's sarcoma since about 1 year. When myasthenic symptoms worsened, the patient was started on prednisone and azathioprine. The patient had a significant worsening of Kaposi's sarcoma, so prednisone and azathioprine were reduced and he was treated with vinblastine, with improvement both in dermatologic than in neurological symptomatology. We propose some considerations: the potential correlation betweenKaposi's sarcoma and myasthenia gravis through immunological mechanism; myasthenia gravis as a paraneoplastic manifestation of Kaposi's sarcoma, and the role of an antitumoral agent as a treatment for both the conditions.

Springerlink

Non-HIV Kaposi's sarcoma: a review and therapeutic perspectives.

Sept 2012

Akasbi Y, Awada A, Arifi S, Mellas N, El Mesbahi O.

Source

Hassan II University Hospital, Medical Oncology Department, 19, rue Jebel Zalagh 2 Narjiss C, 30000 Fez, Morocco, University Libre of Brussels, Institut Jules-Bordet, Medical Oncology Clinic, Brussels, Belgium.

Abstract

"Classic" Kaposi's sarcoma (CKS) not related to HIV is a multifocal angioproliferative neoplasm that is linked to human herpesvirus. CKS is a cutaneous cancer frequently occurring with an indolent course. However, it can compromise the quality of life by causing pain, disfigurement and functional disability. For this reason, the main treatment goals are not only to reduce the cutaneous lesions but also to alleviate organ involvement and psychological stress by delaying disease progression and ultimately cure. This report summarizes systemic treatment options of CKS, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy and anti-HHV8 therapy. In addition, this review will focus on the recent understanding of carcinogenesis and consequently highlight potential "targeted" therapeutic interventions.

John Libbey Eurotext

Instigation of Notch signaling in the pathogenesis of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus and other human tumor viruses.

Oct 2012

Cheng F, Pekkonen P, Ojala PM.

Source

Institute of Biotechnology & Research Programs Unit, Genome-Scale Biology, University of Helsinki, PO Box 56 (Viikinkaari 9), 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.

Abstract

The Notch pathway is a highly conserved signaling circuit with a critical role in cell-fate determination and tumor initiation. Notch is reported to regulate various key events in tumor progression, such as angiogenesis, maintenance of cancer stem cells, resistance to therapeutic agents and metastasis. This review describes the intimate interplay of human tumor viruses with the Notch signaling pathway. Special attention is paid to Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, the etiological agent of Kaposi's sarcoma and rare lymphoproliferative disorders. The past decade of active research has led to significant advances in understanding how Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus exploits the Notch pathway to regulate its replication phase and to modulate the host cellular microenvironment to make it more favorable for viral persistence and spreading.

Future Medicine