Kaposi's sarcoma in HIV-infected patients: clinicolaboratory manifestations, therapeutic approaches.

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) develops in 20% of AIDS patients who are, as a rule, of young or middle age (20-50-year-olds). In most cases the disease is rapi dly progressive up to visceral involvement, presents with rare forms, is ac ute, number of CD4+ and B-lymphocytes is very low against very high content of IgA, IgG and CIC. Half of the patients with AIDS-associated KS had symp toms of moderate DIC syndrome (low count of platelets with normal function) . Lethal outcome was due to addition of opportunistic infection. Treatment policy should account for severity of immune system impairment and presence of opportunistic infections. High-dose intron A combined with AZT is rathe r effective and minimally affects hemostasis and immunity in patients with severe HIV-infection and KS.