Posttransplant Kaposi sarcoma: Analysis of a series of 13 patients.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: This study reflects our experience in the management of posttransplant Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) and assesses the clinical relevance of monitoring HHV-8 DNA viral load in peripheral blood by qPCR. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of all patients diagnosed with posttransplant KS during the period 1995-2019. In 8 patients, we performed a qPCR in serum for HHV-8 DNA detection at diagnosis and/or during follow-up. RESULTS: Data from 13 organ transplant recipients with a diagnosis of iatrogenic KS were collected. Reduction and/or discontinuation of one or more immunosuppressive agent(s) along with switching to an mTOR inhibitor was part of the treatment approach in 12 (92%) patients. Overall response rate (including complete response, partial response, and stable disease) was observed in 9 patients. At diagnosis, HHV-8 qPCR in serum was positive in 2 out of 5 patients. During follow-up, both positive cases turned negative, as a clinical response. CONCLUSIONS: Our work highlights the critical role of reduction of immunosuppression and conversion to an mTOR inhibitor in the management of posttransplant KS.

Lupus panniculitis: Clinicopathological features of a series of 12 patients. / Paniculitis lúpica: características clínico-patológicas de una serie de 12 pacientes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Lupus panniculitis (LP) is a rare variant of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus, which diagnosis requires clinicopathological correlation, especially in those patients without any other manifestation of lupus erythematosus (LE). According to the phase when the biopsy is performed, histological findings can be non-specific. Few series have been published to date. Hence, we report our own experience in the diagnosis and management of this disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective descriptive clinicopathological study of 12 patients diagnosed in our centre. RESULTS: All the patients had painful and recurrent plaques and/or nodules, with a predilection for proximal extremities, face and scalp. Histopathologic examination showed mostly lobular panniculitis and lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate. For the diagnosis, we also considered the coexistence of other clinical manifestations of LE as well as the expression of CD123 by immunohistochemistry. In 3 patients, LP was the first manifestation of LE. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of LP can be difficult. The presence of other clinical and/or histological manifestations of LE along with immunohistochemistry techniques could help in the differential diagnosis with other panniculitis.