Classic Kaposi’s Sarcoma in a 75-Year-Old Woman

Case Presentation

Austin J HIV/AIDS Res. 2016; 3(2): 1024.

Classic Kaposi’s Sarcoma in a 75-Year-Old Woman

Puente Martín M De la1, Guarino MF2, Garde JB2 and Gómez-Pavón J1*

1Geriatrics Department, Central Hospital of the Red Cross, Madrid, Spain

2Dermatology Unit, Central Hospital of the Red Cross, Madrid, Spain

*Corresponding author: Javier Gómez Pavón, Geriatrics Department, Central Hospital of the Red Cross, Madrid, Spain

Received: March 28, 2016; Accepted: April 18, 2016; Published: April 19, 2016

Case Presentation

Kaposi’s Sarcoma (KS) is a systemic disease of predominantly cutaneous involvement, due to the proliferation of endothelial cells stimulated by various cytokines, which occurs as a result of infection by human herpes virus 8 (HHV8) together with other immune and environmental factors. First described in 1872, the reported cases are scarce until the emergence of the HIV [1] pandemic, when its incidence increased exponentially. There are currently four clinical forms of KS recognized: Classical KS (typical appearance over 60 years of age), endemic KS, KS and KS iatrogenic associated with HIV.

We present the case of a 75-year-old woman who was admitted to the acute geriatric unit proceeding from the nursing home where she had lived for the last three years for a biopsy of skin lesions of indeterminate evolution in time and respiratory infection associated with bronchospasm. Personal history consists of hypertension, dyslipidaemia, morbid obesity, and ischemic heart disease of AMI type nine years ago, chronic lung disease, long-standing depressive disorder, degenerative Alzheimer’s dementia in a stage (Global Deterioration Scale 5) and stenosis of the lumbar canal. The baseline situation is severe dependence of ABVDs (Barthel Index 10/100) and mild cognitive impairment (GDS 5). She follows usual treatment with digoxin, omeprazole, dicoumarin, furosemide, acetaminophen, trazodone, bupropion, and inhaled bronchodilators.

At admittance, some signs stand out at physical examination: prolonged expiration with tachypnea and wheezing in both lung fields. Right lower limb presents lilaceouspapular lesions (Figure 1a). Both analytical, with blood count, basic biochemistry with ions, liver enzymes, vitamin B12, TSH and C-reactive protein, such as chest X-ray showed no significant alterations and HIV serology was negative.

Citation: Puente Martín M De la, Guarino MF, Garde JB and Gómez-Pavón J. Classic Kaposi’s Sarcoma in a 75-Year-Old Woman. Austin J HIV/AIDS Res. 2016; 3(2): 1024. ISSN : 2380-0755