Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy following Kaposi's sarcoma

The close relationship of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) with other lymphoproliferative disorders is a poorly understood, but well documented, phenomenon. A case is presented of a 68-year-old woman with the classical form of cutaneous KS in whom disappearance of the lesions after treatment was shortly followed by the development of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy, pursuing a fulminant course to death. Postmortem examination revealed diffuse involvement of the marrow, spleen, liver, and lymph nodes by the immunoblastic proliferation. The close association of these two conditions may represent more than a chance occurrence. The appearance of a constellation of nonspecific symptoms suggestive of a lymphoproliferative disorder in debilitated patients with KS should alert the physician to the possibility of the development of this rare complication.