Kaposi’s Disease (KS) in a Senegalese Child Living with HIV

Abstract

Kaposi’s Disease or Kaposi’s Sarcoma (SK ) is a multifocal malignant proliferation induced by viral growth factors, including interleukin 6 of human herpes virus type 8 (HHV8). We describe four forms of this disease who poses a real public health problem in East and Central Africa. The purpose of our observation was to report a rare condition in a Senegalese HIV-positive child. It was an 11-year-old girl from a region in central Senegal. She was an orphan of both parents, tested and monitored since the age of 5 for HIV infection 1. She was on the 1st line protocol. Due to a lack of support and good observance, she was referred to us at the age of 11 for follow-up in our structure in the suburbs of Dakar. The initial follow-up assessment showed a very low CD4 count and a very high viral load. Before the lack of clinical and immune-virological response, a genotypic resistance test was performed and showed immunological and virological failure. The initial development was marked by the appearance of lesions which were highly suggestive of Kaposi’s disease. She was on 2nd line treatment. The histopathological aspect of cutaneous biopsy was very suggestive of Kaposi’s disease. The subsequent course after ART and bleomycin treatment was clinically marked by regression of skin lesions. Virologically, it was marked by a fall in the viral load. Immunologically there was a gradual recovery of CD4 levels which came back to normal. Our observation demonstrates that absence of effective antiretroviral therapy for HIV increases the risk to develop Kaposi’s sarcoma.