Kaposi Sarcoma–Associated IRIS in Africa

In sub-Saharan Africa, KS is often associated with immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome and death, primarily because of advanced HIV infection and KS at presentation and lack of chemotherapy.

Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) can complicate initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV-infected patients with active opportunistic infections or malignancies. Although Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is the most common HIV-associated malignancy, little has been published on KS-associated IRIS.

In a recent study involving four prospective cohorts (3 in sub-Saharan Africa and 1 in the U.K.), researchers analyzed risk factors for IRIS and death in KS patients initiating ART. Diagnostic criteria for KS-IRIS included paradoxical disease worsening after ART initiation (i.e., worsening of pre-ART KS lesions, new KS lesions, or new sites of involvement) and exclusion of other factors such as the “expected clinical course” of KS and …

Reviewing Author

Philip Grant, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Philip Grant, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Kaposi Sarcoma–Associated IRIS in Africa

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Reviewing Author