HIV/AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma with multiple skin-mucosal disseminations following ultraviolet (puva)...

HIV/AIDS infection in Bulgaria has spread over about 1200 registered patients and it is supposed that the number of the undetected cases is four times higher. Kaposi's sarcoma is rarely observed in our country and no cutaneous-mucosal dissemination is reported for the time being.

The aim of the study is to present a case of disseminated Kaposi's sarcoma in a HIV/ AIDS patient who underwent Psoralen--UVA radiation treatment (PUVA) for total alopecia.

HIV was proved through ELISA and Western blot (InnoLia HIV I/II Score). PCR method (COBAS-Amplicor HIV-1 MT, 1,5) was used to determine viral load (VL). Monitoring was realized by flow-cytometric phenotype analysis of the immune cells. Biopsy of a skin lesion was performed for histomorphological analysis. Computed axial tomography (CAT) of the visceral organs was also applied.

The patient's face, chest, back and upper extremities are covered by more than 50 typical for Kaposi's sarcoma skin tumors and several isolated lesions are found in the oral cavity mucosa. The histological results show dilated vascular spaces with large endothelial cells and spindle-like tumor cells in irregularly formed fascicles. Monitoring of the immune cells and the viral load before and after the application of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) showed CD4+ T cell number = 0.147 x 10(9)/l and VL = 216 000 copies HIV-RNA/ml plasma when the disorder was first detected. A very good effect appeared 4 months after the HAART start: the mucous membrane lesions disappeared and the skin tumors decreased by number and dimensions. In the same time the CD4+ T cell number increased up to 0.255 x 10(9)/l and VL values decreased < 400 c/ml.

Disseminated form of Kaposi's sarcoma can be provoked by additional immunosuppressive factors like the implementation of PUVA therapy. Early initiation of HAART improves the process and prevents visceral dissemination.