Disseminated Kaposi's sarcoma and HCV infection: only a casual relationship? A case report

G Ital Dermatol Venereol. 2009 Jun;144(3):317-20.

Abstract

The authors present a case of disseminated Kaposi's sarcoma in a male patient, HIV negative and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) positive. Although it is well-known that in HCV positive patients the onset of cutaneous diseases such as porphyria cutanea tarda, mixed essential cryoglobulinemia, lichen planus, polyarteritis nodosa, itch/prurigo, is possible, papers on its association with disseminated Kaposi's sarcoma in HIV negative patients are rare in the literature. Such an association is probably not a matter of chance: in fact, the changes to the immune system induced by the HCV virus, in synergy with those induced by the Human Herpetic virus-8, could likewise play a role in the development of Kaposi's sarcoma as happens in patients with immunodeficiency .

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Causality
  • Facial Neoplasms / complications
  • Facial Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Facial Neoplasms / virology
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / complications*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy
  • Herpesvirus 8, Human / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Palatal Neoplasms / complications
  • Palatal Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Palatal Neoplasms / virology
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi / complications*
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi / drug therapy
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi / virology
  • Skin Neoplasms / complications*
  • Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Skin Neoplasms / virology

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Interferon-alpha