Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1992. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
KAPOSI'S SARCOMA IN HIV-NEGATIVE HOMOSEXUAL MEN [LETTER]
Lancet; 335(8682):168-9 1990. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/92688101 Friedman-Kien AE; Saltzman BR; Cao Y; Nestor MS; Mirabile M; Li JJ; Peterman TA; Dept. of Microbiology, New York Univ. Medical Center, New York,; NY 10016
Abstract:
Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) was rarely seen in the United States before 1980. An aggressive type of KS has become widespread during the HIV/AIDS epidemic, mainly affecting homosexual men. 349 homosexual or bisexual men with biopsy proven KS seen in a university hospital-based dermatology practice between 1981 and 1989 were tested for antibodies to HIV-1, and 6 were HIV-1 negative. Case histories and laboratory data for the HIV-1 negative patients (pts) are presented. All pts were alive at December 21, 1989, with a median duration of disease of 60 mo (range 14 to 101 mo) from the date of diagnostic biopsy. 4 of these 6 pts gave histories of one or more sexually transmitted diseases, including gonorrhea (5), syphilis (4), herpes simplex virus (3), amoebiasis (2), and condyloma acuminata (1). Inhaled nitrite (poppers) use was reported by 5. Other workers have identified homosexual men with KS and no HIV infection. The epidemiology of AIDS-associated KS suggests that KS may be caused by another sexually transmitted agent more readily expressed in HIV infection. The appearance of KS in these fairly young homosexual HIV-negative men (aged 32 to 62 yr) suggests that the putative KS agent may have become widespread among homosexual men at about the same time as the HIV epidemic. It is suggested that most people infected with the KS agent would be symptom free because KS lesions are usually only seen in people with immunodeficiencies, and young homosexual or bisexual men are not likely to become immunosuppressed unless infected by HIV. In 1983, 42% of homosexual men with AIDS had KS, evidence that these two epidemics were closely linked (see MEDL/90113628, Beral V et al, Lancet 335(8682):123-8, 1990). By 1988, KS was reported for only 13% of homosexual men with AIDS. Part of this decrease may be because the homosexual men in whom AIDS is now developing had fewer sexual partners and are practicing 'safe' sex, and are less likely to be coinfected by the KS agent. The authors therefore would like to hear about other cases of KS in homosexual men who are not infected with HIV. (6 Refs)
Keywords: Adult Case Report *Homosexuality Human HIV Seropositivity/*COMPLICATIONS Male Middle Age Sarcoma, Kaposi's/COMPLICATIONS/ETIOLOGY/THERAPY Sexually Transmitted Diseases/COMPLICATIONS/EPIDEMIOLOGY LETTER JOURNAL ARTICLE 921230
M92C5381
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Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1992. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
