Ok. Eberhard et al., Five cases of Kaposi's sarcoma in kidney graft recipients - Possible influence of the immunosuppressive therapy, TRANSPLANT, 67(1), 1999, pp. 180-184
Background. Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is an human herpesvirus 8-associated tumo
r, occurring in immunocompromised patients, We report here an increased inc
idence of KS among kidney graft recipients (KGRs) during the last 2 years,
concomitant to the introduction of the immunosuppressant mycophenolate mofe
til (MMF).
Methods. A total of 1835 KG;Rs, receiving organs between 1987 and 1997, wer
e surveyed for the development of RS, A total of 371 patients received ther
apy including MMF (group A), whereas 1464 patients were treated with an MMF
-free protocol (group B).
Results, 3/371 patients (0.8%) of group A versus 2/1464 patients (0.1%) of
group B developed KS, In group A, KS became evident 7+/-2 months after init
iation of MMF therapy.
Conclusions. At our center, during the last 2 years, the incidence of KS ha
s increased in KGRs, and it is not clear whether the introduction of MMF co
ntributes to the phenomenon.