[Clinical aspects of Kaposi's disease]

Three forms of Kaposi's sarcoma are now described: European and Mediterranean forms; they have been described first, are more frequent in old people, and characterised by angiomatous plaques and nodules; the evolution is slow with relapses and remissions. African forms. They are more frequent in young people; clinical features are different with verrucous and tumoral aspects; the evolution is the same with relapses and remissions. In Eastern Africa forms involvement of the lymph nodes are seen; the evolution is rapid above all for children beneath 10. American forms. They appeared recently, in 1981. They are seen in young homosexuals, middle aged about 32, and related to A.I.D.S.; the evolution is severe without remissions and with visceral involvement. If you compare those 3 different forms, you can see that only when associated with A.I.D.S. Kaposi's sarcoma present a complete and permanent immunodeficiency.