Kaposi's sarcoma in AIDS patients: Long-term treatment with recombinant interferon alpha-2A and chemotherapy

Summary We evaluated the response to therapy and outcome in patients with HIV-associated KS. Eighteen of 26 patients with newly diagnosed KS were treated continuously with IFN until progression of the disease occurred. In most patients with progressive disease, chemotherapy, usually with vinca alcaloid derivatives was instituted. Results were disappointing: 10 of 26 patients (38.5%) died after a median follow-up period of 4.5 months. Survival was shortest in patients who developed opportunistic infections, malignant lymphoma, or had a low OKT₄/OKT₈ ratio. Only one patient showed a complete remission and one patient had a partial remission under IFN therapy. Five additional patients had stable disease. Chemotherapy was without measurable effect on KS in patients who had progressive disease under IFN. IFN therapy was associated with various, not life-threatening adverse effects and was best tolerated by patients with a low OKT₄/OKT₈ ratio. Our results indicate that only a small portion of AIDS patients with KS seem to benefit from a continuous treatment with IFN.Abbreviations AIDS Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome - CNS Central nervous system - ELISA Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay - ESR Erythrocyte sedimentation rate - HIV Human immunodeficiency virus - IFN Recombinant interferon alpha-2a - KS Kaposi's sarcoma - WHO World Health Organization