Abstract
BACKGROUND: Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is the most frequent cancer in HIV-positive people in developing countries, affecting their quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical, histopathological and epidemiological features of KS in patients living with HIV, as well as to evaluate the impact of antiretroviral treatment on the incidence and progression of the disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational, descriptive, retrospective and cohort study. During October 2022 to August 2023. Twenty-eight HIV-positive male patients were included and were diagnosed with KS in our institution. Clinical variables, CD4+ cell counts, viral load and treatments received were evaluated, in addition to histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis of the lesions. RESULTS: Most patients had low CD4+ cell counts and high viral load at diagnosis. The most common lesions were erythematous-violaceous papules, nodules and and plaques, in multiple areas of the body. HHV8 was identified in most cases. Antiretroviral therapy showed a long-term protective effect on the incidence of KS. Opportunistic infections were frequent in these patients, the most common one was tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights the need for an early and multidisciplinary approach in the management of KS in HIV-positive patients, underlining the importance of antiretroviral treatment to prevent disease progression. Furthermore, it stresses its complexity and the significant prevalence of opportunistic infections, advocating for comprehensive strategies addressing sarcoma as well as concomitant infections.