AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma (KS) progresses rapidly with early mucosal and systemic involvement. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial as they significantly impact the outcome. This is a case of disseminated cutaneous and gastrointestinal KS in a 24-year-old Filipino male living with HIV, presenting with hyperpigmented violaceous subcutaneous nodules, odynophagia, progressive dysphagia, and symptomatic anemia. Capsule endoscopy demonstrated utility in diagnosing gastrointestinal KS lesions, highlighting its crucial role when conventional upper endoscopy was challenging due to oropharyngeal involvement. Diagnostic limitations, mainly the unavailability of human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) immunohistochemical stain, were addressed through high clinical suspicion. Multidisciplinary approach including chemotherapy with liposomal doxorubicin, radiotherapy, and supportive care eventually yielded good clinical response. This case emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis, timely intervention, and long-term surveillance in achieving favorable outcomes for patients with KS despite some diagnostic limitations.
Human ; Sarcoma, Kaposi, HIV, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Liposomal Doxorubicin

Chorinic hepatitis B virus (CHB) infection is a serious problem that affects over 300 million people worldwide and is highly prevalent in the Asia Pacific region. In the Philippines an estimate 7.3 million Filipinos or 16.7% of adults are chronically infected with HBV, more than twice the average prevalence in the Western Pacific region.

In view of the above, the Hepatology Society of the Philippines (HSP) embarked on the development of consensus statements on the management of hepatitis B with the primary objectives of standardizing approach to management, empowering other physicians involved in the management of hepatitis B and advancing treatment subsidy by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

The local guidelines include screening and vaccination general management, indications for assessment of fibrosis in those who did not meet treatment criteria. indications for treatment, on-treatment and post-treatment monitoring and duration of antiviral treatment. Recommendations on the management of antiviral drug resistance, management of special populations including patients with concurrent HIV or hepatitis C infection, women of child-bearing age (pregnancy and breastfeeding), patients with decompensated liver disease, patients receiving immunosuppressive medications or chemotherapy and patients in the setting of hepatocellular carcinoma are also included. However, the guidelines did not include management for patients with liver and other solid organ transplantation, patients on renal replacement therapy, and children.

The consensus statements will be amended accordingly as new therapies become available.

Hepatitis B ; Consensus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Hepatitis B Virus ; Fibrosis ; Drug Therapy ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Hepatitis Delta Virus ; Hiv