Abstract
Introduction: Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is of public health significance in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, especially in the era of HIV/AIDS. Several works have been done on the prevalence and patterns of KS both in Nigeria and other parts of Africa, with a reported significant prevalence. We employed immunohistochemistry to characterise the morphologic KS cases seen in Nnewi. Materials and Methods: The Formalin Fixed, Paraffin Embedded (FFPE) tissue blocks of all haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) diagnosed cases of KS seen in the archives of histopathology facilities in Nnewi, Anambra State over 15 year period were retrieved. Fresh sections were made from the tissue blocks of the 82 cases that met the inclusion criteria for the study, and were subjected to immunohistochemistry using HHV-8 LNA1 (Human Herpes Virus-8 Latent nuclear antigen1) and HIV-1p24 antibodies and reviewed. Results: A total of 82 KS cases were studied, 69 of which were confirmed KS cases on immunohistochemistry. KS accounted for 1.20% and 14.47% of solid malignancies and sarcomas respectively. Nearly 80% of these were HIV/AIDS-associated, 59.3% of which occurred in females. KS occurred more in the third decade with an age range of 7-74years. Conclusion: KS is quite common in our environment and is largely HIV/AIDS associated. Reducing the burden of HIV/AIDS will invariably reduce KS burden.
Highlights
Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is of public health significance in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, especially in the era of HIV/AIDS
Fresh sections were made from the tissue blocks of the 82 cases that met the inclusion criteria for the study, and were subjected to immunohistochemistry using Human Herpes virus-8 (HHV-8) LNA1 (Human Herpes Virus-8 Latent nuclear antigen1) and HIV-1p24 antibodies and reviewed
KS accounted for 1.20% and 14.47% of solid malignancies and sarcomas respectively
Summary
Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is of public health significance in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, especially in the era of HIV/AIDS. KS is a tumour of uncertain histogenesis caused by Human Herpes virus-8 (HHV-8), but is widely regarded to be of vascular endothelial origin [1] It is the most frequent HIV-associated malignancy worldwide and remains a major scourge in sub-Saharan Africa [2]. HIV-associated KS is a public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa since both the causative agent HHV-8, called Kaposi sarcoma associated-herpesvirus (KSHV) and the major risk factor, HIV, are prevalent and closely associated [2] Due to this close association, most reports on KS has been in the setting of HIV/AIDS, though literatures had documented KS long before the first documentation in the setting of HIV/AIDS [4]. It often involves lymph nodes, disseminates widely to viscera early in its course and most patients eventually die of opportunistic infections rather than KS [6]
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