Abstract
The use of immunosuppressant's increases the risk of developing malignancies in renal allograft patients. One of the most important malignancies, Kaposi's sarcoma, can cause mortality and graft failure among renal allograft patients. We report the case of a 39-year-old male diagnosed with multiple visceral Kaposi's sarcoma 6 months after a second cadaveric renal allograft. The patient's renal function was markedly deteriorated at admission and required hemodialysis initially. Radiologic studies revealed Kaposi's sarcoma in multiple lymph nodes, liver, lung, and peritoneum. The excisional biopsy of an inguinal lymph node confirmed this diagnosis. After diagnosis, tacrolimus treatment was gradually decreased, and sirolimus treatment initiated. The patient did not receive any chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The Kaposi's sarcoma lesions decreased dramatically (both in size and number) 1 month after sirolimus treatment, and kidney graft function improved. This case thus shows successful sirolimus treatment of visceral Kaposi's sarcoma in a renal allograft patient.
Figures and Tables
Table 1
Abbreviations: KTx, kidney transplantation; KS, Kaposi's sarcoma; CNI, calcineurin inhibiotor; CsA, cyclosporine A; PR, partial response; LNs, lymph nodes; IS, immunosuppressant; CR, complete response; Tac, tacrolimus; IFN, interferone.
aTime form kidney transplantation to diagnosis of Kaposi's sarcoma (months).
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