Kaposi Sarcoma: A Study of a Large Number of HIV‐Positive Patients

Background Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) is a rare neoplasm whose prevalence increased with the occurrence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We aimed to assess the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with KS who had HIV. Methods This retrospective study was performed on 2750 patients in Nairobi, Kenya. The characteristics of the KS were assessed in patients. Results From 2750 patients, 124 (4.50%) had KS, of which 68 (54.8%) were males and 56 (45.2%) were females. The mean age of patients was 34.63 ± 8.65 (range 17–62) years. The level of CD4 was less than 100 in 62/124 (50%). Of the patients, 87.9% had skin KS, 50% had mucous membranes, and 17.7% had reticuloendothelial KS. The locations of the lesions were mainly on the lower limbs (78, 62.9%), followed by the head and neck (53, 42.7%). Eye involvement was statistically more prevalent among females than males ( p value = 0.029). Sixty‐one patients (49.1%) had more than 10 KS lesions. Nodules (98, 79.0%) and edema (75, 60.4%) were the most common presentations of KS. Fifty‐three patients (42.7%) had tuberculosis infection. There was a significant relationship between TB and CD4 levels ( p value < 0.001). Patients with lower CD4 levels were more likely to have mucus membrane involvement ( p value = 0.002) and ulceration ( p value = 0.017). Conclusions Our study revealed the various clinical characteristics of KS, suggesting that patients in endemic regions require a thorough clinical examination to rule out this potentially malignant condition. This article will help physicians manage patients with KS more effectively.