Kaposi's sarcoma in Nigeria

The prevalence of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) in parts of Africa has been on the increase as a result of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection pandemic. However, there is a paucity of information for Nigeria.

To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of cutaneous KS in patients with HIV-infection in Benin City, Nigeria.

All patients presenting to the dermatology and infectious diseases clinics of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, or admitted to its medical wards, within the period July 2000-June 2005 were examined retrospectively in a chart review for KS. Diagnosis of HIV was based upon ELISA testing. The CD4(+) cell counts were performed using the Dyna Bead method and KS was diagnosed histologically.

In our survey, 31 patients, representing 0.84% of all new HIV patients seen during the study period, had cutaneous KS. There were 19 males and 12 females, giving a male to female ratio of 1.6 : 1. The mean age was 36.3 +/- 9 years; mean CD4(+) count was 127 +/- 14 cells/dl. The lower limbs (74.2%), trunk (48.4%) and the face (22.6%) were the most frequent sites affected. The lesions were solitary in three patients (9.7%) and multiple in 28 patients (90.3%).

The prevalence of HIV-related KS is increasing in Nigeria. There is an increase in the number of women being diagnosed with this form of KS, probably owing to more females having HIV disease.