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Kaposi’s Sarcoma

  • Chapter
European Handbook of Dermatological Treatments

Abstract

Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) is a multifocal tumor of endothelial cell origin associated with human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection. Four epidemiological and clinical variants are described: (1) classic KS, (2) endemic African KS, (3) KS in therapeutically immunosuppressed patients, and (4) acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-associated KS. The diagnosis of KS is based on the clinical picture and laboratory investigations (histopathology, serological immune tests). Treatment for KS with localized skin lesions includes surgical excision, local destruction (liquid nitrogen, laser, photodynamic therapy, etc.), and radiotherapy. For patients with aggressive disease, the recommendations include liposomal anthracyclines or alternatively different types of mono- or combination chemotherapies including vinblastine or doxorubicin, bleomycin, vincristine, etoposide, and dacarbazine. In AIDS-associated KS in addition, highly active antiretroviral therapies (HAART) need to be initiated. In advanced, nonresponsive KS, the HAART regimen is supplemented with paclitaxel. In organ transplant patients, the immunosuppressive therapy needs reevaluation – a switch to rapamycin has been shown to result in regression of KS. Despite the implication of HHV-8 in KS pathogenesis, anti-herpetic drugs have no effect in KS treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, Vienna, A-1090, Austria

    Erwin Tschachler

  2. 2nd Clinic of Dermatology, Colentina Clinical Hospital, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Sos. Stefan cel Mare nr. 19-21, Bucharest, 020125, Romania

    George-Sorin Tiplica

Authors
  1. Erwin Tschachler
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  2. George-Sorin Tiplica
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Correspondence to Erwin Tschachler .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Andreas Syggros Hospital University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Andreas D. Katsambas  & Clio Dessinioti  & 

  2. University of Rome “G. Marconi”, Rome, Italy

    Torello M. Lotti

  3. Centro Studi per la Ricerca Multidisciplinare Rigenerativa (CSRMR), Rome, Italy

    Torello M. Lotti

  4. Unit of Dermatology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    Angelo Massimiliano D’Erme

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Tschachler, E., Tiplica, GS. (2015). Kaposi’s Sarcoma. In: Katsambas, A.D., Lotti, T.M., Dessinioti, C., D’Erme, A.M. (eds) European Handbook of Dermatological Treatments. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-45139-7_46

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-45139-7_46

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-45138-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-45139-7

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