Kaposi-Sarcoma and Inflammatory bowel diseases C46.-; K51.9; K50.9;

Kaposi's sarcoma is a rare and slowly progressive disease that primarily affects the primary skin and mucous membranes. The constellation "Kaposi's sarcoma and inflammatory bowel disease" receives above-average attention in international literature.

In a larger case-control studies, twenty-five cases of Kaposi's sarcoma associated with inflammatory bowel disease were (approximately 80%) male (Li J et al 2020). The mean age was (51.1 ± 16.4) years in larger collectives. Ulcerative colitis was present in 80% of cases and Crohn's disease in about 20%. All published patients with KS and inflammatory bowel disease received immunomodulatory therapy, including glucocorticoids, azathioprine/mercaptopurine, methotrexate, ciclosporin , and TNF-alpha antibodies. 52% of cases were positive for HHV-8.

Regarding Kaposi's sarcoma involvement, only the distal ileum and colorectum were affected in about 70% cases, only the skin was affected in about 10% cases, and the skin and colorectum were affected simultaneously in 20% cases.

In about 10% of patients, only immunosuppressive therapy was discontinued, 5% of patients received radiotherapy, 5% received chemotherapy, and about 80% patients underwent surgery (Li J et al. 2020).

The surgical approach has the advantage of a dual strategy: on the one hand, it is an elective treatment option for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and on the other hand, it leads to partial or complete reduction of immunosuppressive therapy measures (Li J et al 2020). Remarkably, the constellation of ulcerative colitis and iatrogenic Kaposi's sarcoma is more common than that of Crohn's disease and associated Kaposi's sarcoma (Windon AL et al. 2018).

Overall, the forecast is assessed as favourable.

1. Baykal C et al (2019) The Spectrum of Underlying Causes of Iatrogenic Kaposi's Sarcoma in a Large Series: A Retrospective Study. Indian J Dermatol 64:392-399.
2. Li J et al. (2020) Kaposi's sarcoma combined with severe ulcerative colitis: A case report and literature review. Beijing Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 52:373-377.
3. Papa V et al. (2020) Human herpesvirus 8-associated colonic Kaposi's sarcoma during vedolizumab treatment in ulcerative colitis: a case report and review of the literature. BMC Gastroenterol 20:76.
4. Svrcek M et al. (2009) KSHV/HHV8-associated intestinal Kaposi's sarcoma in patient with ulcerative colitis receiving immunosuppressive drugs: report of a case. Dis Colon Rectum 52:154-158.
5. Windon AL et al. (2018) Iatrogenic Kaposi's sarcoma in an HIV-Negative Young Male With Crohn's Disease and IgA Nephropathy: A Case Report and Brief Review of the Literature. Int J Surg Pathol 26:276-282.