SUCCESSFUL MONOCHEMOTHERAPY OF EXTENSIVE GASTROINTESTINAL KAPOSIS-SARCOMA WITH BOWEL OBSTRUCTION IN ACQUIRED-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-SYNDROME

We report the case history of a 28-year-old homosexual man of Caucasia n origin whose diagnosis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome was est ablished one year before admission on the basis of a positive human im munodeficiency virus serology and cutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma. Severe p ostprandial vomiting pointed to bowel obstruction in an emaciated, poo r risk patient. Endoscopy revealed multifocal, violaceous tumours thro ughout the upper gastrointestinal tract which, eventually, obstructed the duodenum. Histology confirmed the putative diagnosis of gastrointe stinal Kaposi's sarcoma, which responded well to monochemotherapy with vincristine. Significant clinical improvement and repeat endoscopy in dicated tumour regression and resolution of bowel obstruction.