Kaposi's Sarcoma Following Immune Suppressive Therapy for Wegener's Granulomatosis
ISABELLE DESCHÊNES, LOUISE DION, CLAUDE BEAUCHESNE, and ARTUR J. de BRUM-FERNANDES
ABSTRACT.
The association between Kaposi's sarcoma and infection with human herpesvirus 8 is now well recognized. Immunologic impairment is associated with 2 forms of Kaposi's sarcoma, epidemic [associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection] and iatrogenic (associated with immunosuppressive treatment); both forms have become more common during the last decade. We describe an HIV negative 54-year-old man who developed Kaposi's sarcoma 2 months after the beginning of immunosuppressive therapy for Wegener's granulomatosis (WG). With tapering of medication, complete remission of Kaposi's sarcoma was achieved in one year. To our knowledge, this is the second reported case of iatrogenic Kaposi's sarcoma in a patient with WG. (J Rheumatol 2003;30:622-4)
Key Indexing Terms:
WEGENER'S GRANULOMATOSIS
KAPOSI'S SARCOMA
CORTICOSTEROIDS
IMMUNOSUPPRESSION
From the Division of Rheumatology, Division of Infectious Diseases, and Division of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.
I. Deschênes, MD; L. Dion, MD; C. Beauchesne, MD; A.J. de Brum-Fernandes, MD, PhD.
Address reprint requests to Dr. A.J. de Brum-Fernandes, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Service de Rhumatologie, 3001 12e Avenue Nord, Fleurimont, Québec J1H 5N4, Canada.
Submitted January 10, 2002; revision accepted August 28, 2002.
