[Immunosuppressive therapy and Kaposi's sarcoma: two case reports (author's transl)]

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is an opportunistic malignancy.
• Immunosuppressive therapy is a known risk factor for KS development.
• Understanding KS pathogenesis is crucial for managing at-risk patients.

Observation:

• Case 1: A 47-year-old male developed rapidly progressing cutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma post-renal transplant, coinciding with corticosteroid and azathioprine treatment.
• Case 2: An 83-year-old male developed Kaposi's sarcoma during steroid therapy for bullous pemphigoid.
• Lesions in Case 1 notably appeared near an arteriovenous fistula.

Findings:

• Two distinct cases highlight the potential link between immunosuppressive agents and Kaposi's sarcoma.
• The findings suggest immunosuppression, potentially combined with local predisposition and genetic factors, contributes to KS pathogenesis.
• Corticosteroids and azathioprine were implicated in the development or exacerbation of KS.

Implications:

• Careful monitoring for Kaposi's sarcoma is warranted in patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy.
• Further research into the interplay of immunosuppression, genetics, and local factors in KS development is needed.
• This underscores the importance of considering iatrogenic factors in the differential diagnosis of skin lesions in immunocompromised individuals.