Abstract

Objective: Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is the most common tumour among AIDS patients and is considered as an AIDS defining illness. However, the introduction of HAART has led to a decline in the incidence of the disease among these patients. The objective of this study is to review the clinical presentation, treatment and outcome of HIV associated KS in a tertiary health facility in Nigeria. Methods: Records of all patients that were managed with HIV associated KS from January 2012 to December 2014 at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital were reviewed and data obtained was analysed using a computer statistical software. Results: During the period under review, 3705 patients were recruited in the antiretroviral treatment (ART) clinic out of which 24 were found to have HIV associated KS giving a period prevalence of 0.65%. The male to female ratio was 2.4:1. The mean age of the patients was 39.46 (±8.75) years. Six cases (25%) were diagnosed to have HIV as a result of KS. The remaining 75% were all on 1st line ARVs. Nine patients (37.5%) had treatment for Tuberculosis before they were diagnosed with KS. Based on the ACTG classification, 58.3% were poor risk group. Treatments given to the patients include HAART for 2 patients and 4 patients (16.7%) absconded. The remaining 18 patients had chemotherapy in the form of combination of intravenous Adriamycin, Bleomycin and Vincristine (ABV) with variable outcomes. Five patients failed ABV and had Paclitaxel given. At the end of the chemotherapy, 14 patients (58.3%) were in remission with 5 (20.8%) mortalities. There is no statistically significant difference between CD4 count before and after chemotherapy (P>0.05) Conclusions: Majority of our patients are classified poor risk. Paclitaxel can be used as second line treatment. Treatment of KS does not improve CD4 count in patients with HIV. There is need to clinically identify patients with KS early in ART centre in order to improve outcome.

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