Kaposi sarcoma following autoimmune hemolytic anemia in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Abstract

Kaposi sarcoma is a low grade angioproliferative disorder which requires infection with human herpes virus 8 for its development. Skin lesions can be observed frequently in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cases, but there is a limited number of cases of Kaposi sarcoma with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the literature. Here, we present a case report of an iatrogenic Kaposi sarcoma in a 79-year-old man recently diagnosed with autoimmune hemolytic anemia secondary to chronic lymphocytic leukemia. After treatment with methylprednisolone and rituximab, the patient developed Kaposi sarcoma nodular lesions on his legs. After three courses of oral etoposide for Kaposi sarcoma, the lesions completely disappeared at the end of the third month of treatment. Even though the mortality rate is low with Kaposi sarcoma, it can cause physical and psychological burden for the patients. Additional investigations and raising awareness of Kaposi sarcoma while evaluating the differential diagnosis of skin lesions in chronic lymphocytic leukemia are needed. Short-term oral etoposide was tolerated well in this patient with a good clinical response.