Case 24. A Violaceous Situation: Kaposi Sarcoma

A 42-yr-old man with AIDS presents feeling unwell, with white spots in his mouth, and scattered violaceous macules on his upper extremities; he has never taken ART. Listen as hosts Eileen Scully and Chris Hoffmann from Hopkins describe their initial work-up for a patient with a CD4 count of 10; discuss symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of Kaposi sarcoma and other HHV8-related diseases; and remember the historical stigma of KS and the lingering effects of that stigma as they confirm the need to remain KS-aware even in 2026 in the U.S.References Cited:Bettuzzi T, Lebbe C, Grolleau C. Modern Approach to Manage Patients With Kaposi Sarcoma. J Med Virol. 2025 Mar;97(3):e70294. PMID: 40119751.Panel on Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Adults and Adolescents with HIV. Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Adults and Adolescents with HIV. National Institutes of Health, HIV Medicine Association, and Infectious Diseases Society of America. Human Herpesvirus-8 Disease. Updated April 23, 2025. Available online here. Accessed 5/21/2026.Related GuidelinesNYSDOH AI Clinical Guidelines Program:Primary Care for Adults With HIV; see especially Flowchart 3: Initial Visit: New Patient, HIV Confirmed, NOT Taking ART Management of IRISRapid ART InitiationClinical Info HIV.gov: HIV Clinical Guidelines: Adult and Adolescent Opportunistic Infections – Human Herpesvirus-8 DiseaseResource: DermNet – Kaposi sarcoma images