Kaposi's Sarcoma and HIV
Kaposi sarcoma (KS) also known as Kaposi’s cancer, is a tumor caused by Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8), also known as Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). Kaposi's sarcoma creates tumors below skin surfaces and in membranes of the mouth, nose, anus, or eyes. It can spread to the lungs, liver, stomach, intestines, or lymph nodes. This involves a process called angiogenesis, where tiny new blood vessels form.
There are four main types of Kaposi’s sarcoma.
1) Classic Kaposi’s sarcoma, seen mainly in elderly Mediterranean and Eastern European men, more especially, in Italian and Jewish men, and rarely, in elderly women.
2) Endemic Kaposi’s sarcoma, seen mainly in young adult males in sub Saharan Africa. One form is also common in young African children.
3) Transplant Kaposi’s sarcoma, is contracted when a HHV-8 infected organ is transplanted into a patient who has not had a history of the disease Endemic Kaposi’s cancer.
Among these first 3 groups, the tumors developed slowly.
4) HIV related Kaposi’s sarcoma, is self explanatory but the cancers here develop very rapidly due to the persons weakened immune system. Occasionally they will appear on a HIV+ person with a high CD4 count as well. The KS that appears in this instance is most frequently the same type as Transplant KS. Kaposi's Sarcoma is considered to be AIDS defining illnesses by both The United States Center for Disease Control (CDC) and The World Health Organization. (WHO) regardless of the CD4 count. Kaposi's sarcoma can be deadly for a HIV+ person with a low CD4 count.
There are four main types of Kaposi’s sarcoma.
1) Classic Kaposi’s sarcoma, seen mainly in elderly Mediterranean and Eastern European men, more especially, in Italian and Jewish men, and rarely, in elderly women.
2) Endemic Kaposi’s sarcoma, seen mainly in young adult males in sub Saharan Africa. One form is also common in young African children.
3) Transplant Kaposi’s sarcoma, is contracted when a HHV-8 infected organ is transplanted into a patient who has not had a history of the disease Endemic Kaposi’s cancer.
Among these first 3 groups, the tumors developed slowly.
4) HIV related Kaposi’s sarcoma, is self explanatory but the cancers here develop very rapidly due to the persons weakened immune system. Occasionally they will appear on a HIV+ person with a high CD4 count as well. The KS that appears in this instance is most frequently the same type as Transplant KS. Kaposi's Sarcoma is considered to be AIDS defining illnesses by both The United States Center for Disease Control (CDC) and The World Health Organization. (WHO) regardless of the CD4 count. Kaposi's sarcoma can be deadly for a HIV+ person with a low CD4 count.
