Spontaneous Manifestation And Regression Of A Kaposi’s Sarcoma Under Cyclosporin A Therapy
Der Hautarzt 39(6): Jun 1988; 368-370
View Original Source →Abstract
A case of Kaposi sarcoma is reported in a 40-year-old Turk 3 months after a kidney transplantation under immunosuppression with Cyclosporin A and Methylprednisolone. After reduction of immunosuppression, there was complete regression of the sarcoma and the kidney transplant functioned correctly
Case Details
Personal Characteristics
A turkish teacher, 40 years old, had been dependent on dialysis since march 1981 because of terminal kidney insufficiency with suspected chronic glomerulonephritis. On june 9, 1984, he received a kidney transplant in the transplant center erlangen-nuernberg.
Clinical Characteristics
In september 1984, pinhead-sized bluish-red little nodes appeared around the tip of his nose, the cheeks and temples that increased in size. In november more nodes were discovered in the corner of the right eye and on the right ear. There were no similar or identical changes around the trunk or the extremities. Likewise, no peripheral lymph node changes were found.
Remission Characteristics
After a few weeks the kaposi sarcomas were reduced in size and regressed completely within 3 months after reduction of the immunosuppressive therapy.
Treatment & Mechanisms
Proposed Remission Mechanisms
Reduction of immunosuppression
Clinical Treatment
Cyclosporin a, 9 mg/kg kg/day; methylprednisolone, 2 mg/kg kg/day in descending dosage, after 6 weeks at a dosage of alternating 8 milligrams and 4 milligrams. Additionally, the patient received for the purpose of a prospective study, starting intraoperatively, 20 mg/kg kg/day antilymphocyte globulin of a horse for 14 days.
Additional Notes
The transplanted kidney started to function immediately. To this day, the patient is free of Kaposi sarcoma, his transplanted kidney functions fully, creatinine is at 1.2 mg%.