Kaposi Sarcoma in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: A challenging Case

Daniela Macedo; Pedro Miguel Garrido; Isabel Fernandes; Alice Santana; José Guerra; João Borges-Costa

doi:10.29021/spdv.77.3.1085

Daniela Macedo Serviço de Oncologia Médica, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, EPE (CHULN) – Lisboa, Portugal
Pedro Miguel Garrido Serviço de Dermatologia, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, EPE (CHULN) – Lisboa, Portugal
Isabel Fernandes Serviço de Oncologia Médica, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, EPE (CHULN) – Lisboa, Portugal; Unidade de Investigação em Oncobiologia Translacional, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa (FMUL) – Lisboa, Portugal
Alice Santana Serviço de Nefrologia, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, EPE (CHULN) – Lisboa, Portugal
José Guerra 4 – Serviço de Nefrologia, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, EPE (CHULN) – Lisboa, Portugal.
João Borges-Costa Serviço de Dermatologia, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, EPE (CHULN) – Lisboa, Portugal; Clínica Universitária de Dermatologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa (FMUL) - Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa – Lisboa, Portugal.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.29021/spdv.77.3.1085

Keywords: Immunocompromised Host, Organ Transplantation/adverse effects, Sarcoma, Kaposi/etiology, Transplant Recipients

Abstract

Kaposi sarcoma is a low-grade vascular tumor, associated with human herpesvirus-8 infection. Solid organ transplant recipients have a much higher risk of this malignancy, with estimated incidence rates increased 84 to 500 times. The risk is even higher in some ethnic groups, already with a higher incidence of this disease.
We report a case of a 37-year-old African male, a kidney transplant recipient, with a Kaposi sarcoma refractory to different treatment options. The present case puts in evidence the challenges associated with the management of this disease in this high-risk population and highlights the role of a multidisciplinary approach to achieve effective treatment, particularly in advanced and refractory forms.

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