A Case of Ocular Kaposi’s Sarcoma Successfully Treated with Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) Combined with Docetaxel
Mistake in diagnosis, Unusual or unexpected effect of treatment, Rare disease
Chongfei Jin, Hamza Minhas, Amandeep Kaur, Sreenath Kodali, Vladimir Gotlieb
Department of Medicine, Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA
Am J Case Rep 2018; 19:1074-1077
DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.910374
Available online:
Published: 2018-09-10
BACKGROUND:
Ocular Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) involving the conjunctiva and ocular adnexa is uncommon and is usually treated with cryotherapy or surgical excision. We report a case of ocular KS successfully treated with HAART combined with 8 cycles of weekly docetaxel.
CASE REPORT:
Our patient was a 24-year-old, treatment-naïve, HIV-positive (CD4 cell count 198 cells/mm3), homosexual man treated as having atypical hordeolum and subconjunctival hemorrhage, and later confirmed with pathology to have ocular KS with immunohistochemistry study showing KS with positive HHV8, CD34, CD31, and focal positive staining with Factor VIIIRA. HAART therapy was initiated combined with weekly docetaxel. With 2-month treatment of HAART and 8 cycles of weekly docetaxel, the KS of the bulbar conjunctiva and the eyelid partially resolved.
CONCLUSIONS:
HAART combined with weekly docetaxel is an effective and well-tolerated option for ocular KS, which could be considered before cryotherapy or surgical excision.
Keywords: Anti-Retroviral Agents, Antineoplastic Agents, Herpesvirus 8, Human, Sarcoma, Kaposi
