What is the treatment for kaposi's sarcoma?

The thing to note about KS is that HAART dramatically reduces incidence of KS and sometimes results in resolution of cutaneous or systemic disease (though cases of KS getting worse shortly after initiating treatment -- due to immune reconstitution syndrome -- have also been reported.
Treatment is only required for:
(1) symptomatic systemic involvement;
(2) rapid progression;
(3) interference with a vital function;
(4) negative affect on quality of life.


Current guidelines for the treatment for SYSTEMIC KS is interferon-alpha and chemotherapy including pegylated-liposomal anthracyclines and paclitaxel. Some treatments under investigation right now: angiogenesis inhibitors, IL-12, and HIV-tat inhibitors.

Treatment for solitary or few lesions (for cosmetic reasons) is:
*Aggressive cryotherapy: multiple lesions in areas not cosmetically important as healing times and cosmesis are less effective to excision or vinblastin injection.
*Surgical excision: solitary or few lesions in cosmetically sensitive locations.
*Laser ablation: poor healing, similar to cryotherapy therefore should be used for debulking in cosmetically unimportant areas.
*Intralesional injection of vinblastin: larger solitary lesions not amenable to excision or cryotherapy. Also, a very good option for solitary/few lesions when cosmesis is important, since cosmetic results can be excellent.
*Radiation therapy: larger and/or multiple lesions in one specific site not amenable to destructive modalities or excision. May cause or exacerbate lymphatic obstruction and lymphedema, especially in lower extremities.

Hope this helps

dunno

Kaposi's sarcoma is not curable, in the usual sense of the word, but it can often be effectively palliated for many years and this is the aim of treatment. In KS associated with immunodeficiency or immunosuppression, treating the cause of the immune system dysfunction can slow or stop the progression of KS. In 40% or more of patients with AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma, the Kaposi lesions will shrink upon first starting highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). However, in a certain percentage of such patients, Kaposi's sarcoma may again grow after a number of years on HAART, especially if HIV is not completely suppressed. Patients with a few local lesions can often be treated with local measures such as radiation therapy or cryotherapy. Surgery is generally not recommended as Kaposi's sarcoma can appear in wound edges. More widespread disease, or disease affecting internal organs, is generally treated with systemic therapy with interferon alpha, liposomal anthracyclines (such as Doxil) or paclitaxel.

With the decrease in the death rate among AIDS patients receiving new treatments in the 1990s, the incidence and severity of epidemic KS also decreased. However, the number of patients living with AIDS is increasing substantially in the United States, and it is possible that the number of patients with AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma will again rise as these patients live longer with HIV infection.

Blood tests to detect antibodies against KSHV have been developed and can be used to determine if a patient is at risk for transmitting infection to his or her sexual partner, or if an organ is infected prior to transplantation.