Pulmonary Kaposi Sarcoma: an uncommon presentation in HIV heterosexual female on antiretroviral therpay.

ABSTRACT

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is caused by Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), and it affects 15 times more common in men than women. It has varied clinical presentation from classic, endemic, organ transplant-related, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related. Clinical features of pulmonary KS might be challenging to distinguish from pneumonia in immunocompromised patients and could lead to diagnostic challenges. Hence Pulmonary KS should also be considered in the differential when HIV-infected patients develop rapidly progressive respiratory symptoms after the initiation of glucocorticoid therapy and immunocompromised not responding to antibiotic treatment for pneumonia, especially when CD4 < 100 and viral load >10,000. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for a better outcome and prevent morbidity and mortality. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is the only proven therapy to prevent Kaposi sarcoma. We report the case of a young woman who presented with symptoms of pneumonia and was later found to have pulmonary KS (PKS).