Kaposi's Sarcoma and Autoimmune Thrombocytopenia

Robert L. Modlin Divisions of Dermatology, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California; Department of Dermatology, Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles, California; The University of Southern California Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, California

Raymond A. Kempf Divisions of Medical Oncology, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California; Department of Medicine, Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles, California; The University of Southern California Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, California

Malcolm S. Mitchell Divisions of Medical Oncology, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California; Department of Medicine, Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles, California; The University of Southern California Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, California

Clive R. Taylor Department of Medicine and Department of Pathology, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California; Department of Pathology, Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles, California; The University of Southern California Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, California

Charles R. Davis Department of Medicine, The Hospital of the Good Samaritan, Los Angeles, California; The University of Southern California Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, California

Thomas H. Rea Divisions of Dermatology, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California; The University of Southern California Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, California

Abstract

Outbreaks of Kaposi's sarcoma, opportunistic infections, and autoimmune thrombocytopenia among homosexual men have recently been described. We report here a case with the combination of Kaposi's sarcoma and autoimmune thrombocytopenia. Our patient presented with Kaposi's sarcoma limited to the integument and autoimmune thrombocytopenia diagnosed by elevated platelet bound IgG. Characteristics of immunosuppression included lymphocytopenia and a reversed blood helper: suppressor T lymphocyte ratio. Immunohistochemical evaluation of skin biopsy specimens revealed tumor cells to contain Factor VIII-related antigen (a vascular endothelial cell marker). In addition some tumor cells stained positively with a monoclonal antibody directed against a cytomegalovirus antigen.

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