General reviews
CURRENT THERAPEUTIC OPTIONS FOR KAPOSI’S SARCOMA IN HIV-POSITIVE PATIENTS

Epidemic Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) is the most frequent malignancy in HIV-infected patients worldwide and it’s an AIDS-defining illness. Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a low-grade vascular tumor that develops secondary to infection with the human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8), typically occurring in the context of immunodeficiency.

Kaposi sarcoma lesions predominantly present at mucocutaneous sites, may involve all organs and anatomic locations with a variable clinical course, ranging from very indolent forms to a rapidly progressive disease. The incidence of KS has dramatically decreased in the Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) era and now represents the first step in the management of the disease.

Therapeutic options vary for KS. HAART, either alone, or in combination with systemic and local therapy has a crucial role in controlling KS. In this review, we aimed to pinpoint the complexity of the staging criteria and treatment of AIDS-associated Kaposi sarcoma.