[Kaposi's sarcoma in dermatology consultations at Lome, Togo]

The purpose of this retrospective study conducted in a dermatologic out patient clinic in Lomé was to assess the epidemiologic, clinical, and prognostic profile of Kaposi's sarcoma in Togo during the 15 years period between 1980 and 1994. Only patients who had undergone serologic tests for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were included. There were 30 patients (27 men and 3 women) with a mean age of 35.2 years (range: 17 to 59 years). Thirteen patients were seropositive (epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma or EPK) and 17 were seronegative (endemic Kaposi's sarcoma or ENK). The mean age of patients with EPK was lower than that of patients with ENK (30.0 vs 42.3 years). Extensive (92.3%) and edematous (90%) forms and involvement of the upper extremities (66.7%), trunk (01.6%), and mucosa (92.3%) were characteristic clinical features of EPK while localized nodular forms (92.3%) were characteristic of ENK. A death was noted after 5 years of follow-up in the ENK group as compared to 12 deaths after a mean follow-up of 15.95 years in the EPK group. This study illustrates the current profile of Kaposi's sarcoma in Black Africa where HIV infection has greatly changed clinical findings and prognosis.