Case report

The prognostic significance of facial lymphoedema in HIV-seropositive subjects with Kaposi sarcoma

L Feller¹ , JN Masipa² , NH Wood¹ , EJ Raubenheimer³ and J Lemmer¹

¹  Department of Periodontology and Oral Medicine, University of Limpopo School of Dentistry, Pretoria, South Africa

²  Department of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery, University of Limpopo School of Dentistry, Pretoria, South Africa

³  Department of Oral Pathology, University of Limpopo School of Dentistry, Pretoria, South Africa

author email corresponding author email

AIDS Research and Therapy 2008, 5:2doi:10.1186/1742-6405-5-2

Published:	29 January 2008

Abstract

Background

Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) is a multifocal angioproliferative neoplasm characterized by inflammation, oedema, neoangiogenesis and spindle cell proliferation. The pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated KS (HIV-KS) is multifactorial. HHV-8 is an essential factor but not in itself sufficient to cause HIV-KS, the development of which is influenced by HIV, by increased production of cytokines and by growth factors. Whether HIV-KS is a true malignancy or a reactive hyperplastic inflammatory condition is debatable.

Results and Conclusion

Oedema of the face, legs and hands is a prominent feature of HIV-KS and is probably caused by lymphoedema related to the HIV-KS lesions. The cases of two HIV-seropositive subjects with KS-associated facial lymphoedema are reported. Extensive oral HIV-KS in association with facial oedema in the absence of anti-retroviral treatment appears to be an indication of a poor prognosis.