Kaposi Sarcoma
Basics
Kaposi sarcoma (KS) was originally described in 1872 by a Hungarian dermatologist named Moritz Kaposi.
Description
- Synonym(s): KS; multiple idiopathic hemangiosarcoma
- KS is a low-grade vascular tumor associated with human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), a γ-herpesvirus.
- Kaposi sarcoma–associated herpesvirus (KSHV), another name for HHV-8, is the etiologic agent of all clinical forms of KS and several other lymphoproliferative diseases, including primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) and multicentric Castleman disease (MCD).
- Four major forms are seen:
- Epidemic/AIDS-associated KS: seen primarily in patients with lower CD4 counts, especially among patients who are not on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)
- Iatrogenic/transplant-associated KS: seen in patients who are posttransplant and/or on immunosuppressive medication regimens
- Endemic/African KS: seen in equatorial Africa, especially sub-Saharan countries
- Classic/sporadic KS: rare, mostly seen in elderly men in the Mediterranean and Eastern European regions
- Systems affected: hemolytic/lymphatic/immunologic; skin/exocrine; gastrointestinal; pulmonary
- Fulminant lymphadenopathic disease is a subtype of endemic KS occurring in young children.
Epidemiology
- Predominant age: 16 to 70 years; African KS predominant age: 35 to 40 years; classic KS age: 50 to 70 years; AIDS-related KS age: 20 to 54 years
- Predominant sex: in the United States, epidemic KS: male > female ~50:1; classic and endemic KS: male > female ~10:1
Incidence
- ~2,500 cases occur yearly in the United States, most often in people infected with HIV.
- The U.S. incidence of KS after transplantation is estimated to be 1 in 200; renal transplant recipients are most frequently affected.
- Incidence of KS has decreased greatly since the advent of HAART; KS in the United States peaked at 47 cases per million at the height of the AIDS epidemic and now occurs at rate of 6 cases per million people each year.
Prevalence
- Before HAART, KS was >20,000 times more common in AIDS patients than in the general population.
- The seroprevalence of KSHV in the United States is <1–5%, but among MSM, prevalence is 20–77%; in certain parts of Africa, rates can reach >80%.
- AIDS-related KS may occur at normal CD4 cell counts but is more common at CD4 <200 cells/mL.
- In sub-Saharan Africa, KS remains the most frequent cancer among men, the third most frequent cancer among women, and the most common HIV-associated malignancy.
Etiology and Pathophysiology
- HHV-8 can be transmitted through blood transfusions, solid-organ transplants, and possibly through saliva.
- HHV-8 is necessary, but not sufficient, to induce KS.
- HHV-8 activates signaling pathways that promote an angiogenic-inflammatory state, leading to vascular proliferation that is the hallmark of KS.
- HIV infection may promote KS progression by inducing cytokines and impairing host immunity.
- Certain HIV gene products may play a role in tumorigenesis in KS.
Genetics
Genetic predisposition is suggested by the occurrence of classic KS in men of Mediterranean or Eastern European Ashkenazi descent.
Risk Factors
- HIV infection
- Living in endemic areas (e.g., Zimbabwe, Uganda)
- Immunosuppression (e.g., immunosuppressant medications, transplantation, chemotherapy)
- High-risk sexual practices
- Maternal–child transmission
- Injection drug use
- Exposure to infectious saliva
- Contact with KS skin lesions
- Blood transfusions and solid-organ transplants
- HHV-8 viremia (associated with 9-fold increased risk of developing KS)
- High antibody titers to HHV-8 related to faster development of KS and possibly to higher maternal–child transmission
General Prevention
Safe sex practices, avoid needle sharing, and careful screening of transplant organs; no anti–HHV-8 therapy is currently recommended for prevention.
Commonly Associated Conditions
HIV infection/AIDS; lymphoma
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Citation
Domino, Frank J., et al., editors. "Kaposi Sarcoma." 5-Minute Clinical Consult, 33rd ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2025. Medicine Central, im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/816022/all/Kaposi_Sarcoma.
Kaposi Sarcoma. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, et al, eds. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/816022/all/Kaposi_Sarcoma. Accessed December 13, 2024.
Kaposi Sarcoma. (2025). In Domino, F. J., Baldor, R. A., Golding, J., & Stephens, M. B. (Eds.), 5-Minute Clinical Consult (33rd ed.). Wolters Kluwer. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/816022/all/Kaposi_Sarcoma
Kaposi Sarcoma [Internet]. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, Stephens MBM, editors. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. [cited 2024 December 13]. Available from: https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/816022/all/Kaposi_Sarcoma.
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