Korean J Dermatol.  2014 Sep;52(9):646-650.

Three Cases of Classic Kaposi Sarcoma Treated with Pegylated Interferon Alpha 2a Intralesional Injection

• Jeong YI
• Huh JW
• Kim G
• Kim EJ
• Park HJ
• Jue MS

Abstract

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a multifocal proliferative vascular tumor often caused by human herpes virus 8. Among the four subtypes of KS, classic KS (CKS) is usually chronic, persisting over many years, but is not life threatening. Because the natural history of KS varies, many kinds of therapeutic option for CKS are available and their assessment may be difficult. We experienced three cases of CKS showing HHV-8 positive in biopsy, no history of immunosuppression and HIV infection, normal chest X-ray, no metastasis, and successfully treated with intralesional injection of Pegylated Interferon-alpha2a (Peg-IFN-alpha2a). After an intralesional Peg-IFN-alpha2a injection of 180 mcg/0.5 ml was administered once a week for 4 months, the size and induration of the lesions reduced greatly and the colors faded away. Histopathological examination of the resolved lesions did not show any evidence of KS with negative HHV-8 results. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in the literature for the treatment of CKS with intralesional Peg-IFN-alpha2a injection.

Keyword

Classic Kaposi sarcoma; Intralesional injection; Pegylated interferon alpha

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Herpesvirus 8, Human
HIV Infections
Humans
Immunosuppression
Injections, Intralesional*
Interferon-alpha*
Natural History
Neoplasm Metastasis
Sarcoma, Kaposi*
Thorax
Interferon-alpha