Kaposi’s Sarcoma Under Tyrosine Kinase Inhibition

Figure

A 91-year-old female presented with multiple purple-reddish plaques and firm nodules on both legs. The painful lesions had been spreading proximally from the lower legs to the thighs for 5 months. Mucous membranes were unaffected. The patient’s medical history included rheumatoid arthritis that had been treated with immunosuppressants for many years, firstly with methotrexate and, in the preceding 3 years, with a janus kinase 1/2 inhibitor. Histopathological analysis revealed dense capillary vessel-like and partially thrombosed vascular proliferation, demonstrating a positive immune response for human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8). The latter confirmed the diagnosis of Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS). Apart from classic, endemic, and HIV-related forms, KS very rarely occurs in serologically negative HIV except, as in this case, in connection with medication such as immunosuppressive therapies, which promote a reactivation of herpesviruses. Remission may occur with discontinuation of immunosuppressive therapy. Due to the patient’s significantly reduced general condition, she expressed the wish for an overall palliative plan, as part of which no further local or systemic therapeutic strategies were used.

Dr. med. Kathie Schmidt, Dr. med. Ursula Kriesen, Dr. med. Rüdiger Panzer, Medizinische Klinik III für Hämatologie, Onkologie und Palliativmedizin, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, [e-mail].

Conflict of interest statement: The authors state that no conflict of interest exists.

Translated from the original German by Christine Rye.

Cite this as: Schmidt K, Kriesen U, Panzer R: Kaposi’s sarcoma under tyrosine kinase inhibition. Dtsch Arztebl Int 2022; 119: 217. DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.m2022.0026