The Journal of the Korean Society for Transplantation  2012;26(4):293-298

doi:10.4285/jkstn.2012.26.4.293

Successful Sirolimus Treatment of Multiple Visceral Kaposi's Sarcoma in a Renal Allograft Patient.

Min Hwan KIM 1 ; Myoung Soo KIM ; Yoon Jin CHA ; Kyoung Sook PARK ; Beom Seok KIM ; Soohyeoun LEE

Affiliations

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Keywords

Kidney transplantation; Kaposi sarcoma; Sirolimus

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

The use of immunosuppressant's increases the risk of developing malignancies in renal allograft patients. One of the most important malignancies, Kaposi's sarcoma, can cause mortality and graft failure among renal allograft patients. We report the case of a 39-year-old male diagnosed with multiple visceral Kaposi's sarcoma 6 months after a second cadaveric renal allograft. The patient's renal function was markedly deteriorated at admission and required hemodialysis initially. Radiologic studies revealed Kaposi's sarcoma in multiple lymph nodes, liver, lung, and peritoneum. The excisional biopsy of an inguinal lymph node confirmed this diagnosis. After diagnosis, tacrolimus treatment was gradually decreased, and sirolimus treatment initiated. The patient did not receive any chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The Kaposi's sarcoma lesions decreased dramatically (both in size and number) 1 month after sirolimus treatment, and kidney graft function improved. This case thus shows successful sirolimus treatment of visceral Kaposi's sarcoma in a renal allograft patient.