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from Medical Issues
Kaposi's Sarcoma Reappears In San Francisco
October 22, 2007 - A report in the San Francisco Chronicle (October 13, 2007) notes that several Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS) cases have emerged in the city among long-term HIV positive individuals.
Fifteen patients are being treated for KS. "This could either be the canary in the coal mine, or it could just be a collection of rare events that will continue to occur when people are given what appears to be effective treatment," said Dr. Jeffrey Miller, a San Francisco General Hospital epidemiologist and KS expert.
This disease was once widespread and was known as "gay cancer." Beginning in 1995, anti-viral drugs resulted in the disappearance of the disease. Columbia University researchers found that KS was caused by a herpes virus, HHV-8. This disease migrated to the lungs, lymph nodes and throat. Death was frequently the result.
According to epidemiologist Dr. Marcus Conant, "I believe some other virus, or infection, is stimulating HHV-8 to replicate."
Additional Reading: Medical Issues.
Updated: 8 February 2008
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