Profile of Kaposi sarcoma patients in the competence network HIV/AIDS

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) represents the most common AIDS-defining neoplasm. Only very few studies regarding the course and treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated KS have been carried out in Germany. In this study the course of HIV-associated KS was observed in patients from the cohort database of the competence network for HIV/AIDS. Data from HIV-associated KS patients from 9 German core centers from 1987 to 2011 were retrospectively collected. Kaplan-Meier curves for the recurrence and survival probability were calculated. In 222 patients KS was diagnosed at a median age of 38.5 +/- 10.1 years. Men were almost exclusively affected (97.7%). The HIV viral load at the time of diagnosis was in 7.4% < 50 copies/ml. Of the patients 55.5% developed KS with a CD4 cell count of < 200 cells/mu l and 9.5% with > 500 cells/mu l. In 68 patients KS therapy consisted exclusively of the optimization or initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART). In addition, 71 patients were treated with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin. During the median follow-up period of 8.9 +/- 4.9 years, 80.2% of the patients were free of KS recurrence. Survival rates after 5 and 10 years were 96.8% and 91.3%, respectively. Even with a good immune status HIV-associated KS occurred. An effective ART was the most important mainstay of therapy. With appropriate therapy, HIV-positive patients with KS showed a good survival rate.