MANIFESTATIONS OF AGGRESSIVE ATYPICAL KAPOSI'S SARCOMA [AAKS] IN HIV DISEASE PATIENTS SEEN IN MAIDUGURI, NORTHEASTERN NIGERIA

Infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has since the mid-1980's been known to distinguish atypical, aggressive Kaposi's sarcoma (AAKS) from the endemic type in Africa (1). In our series at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, we recorded 44 patients with AAKS, 35 of them male and 9 female, giving an M: F ratio approximately 4:1. The peak age groups for the males were 21-30 years, and 31-40 years, while for the females it was 21-30 years. The site distribution of AAKS lesions was predominantly the lower limb (70.5%) followed by the upper limb (9.1%); those with multiple site lesions (nose, face, oral cavity, penis and trunk) also accounted for 9.1% of the cases. The commonest clinical features manifested by the patients were fever (100%), weight loss (86.8%), skin nodules (86.4%) and diarrhoea (55.3%). Virtually, all occupational groups were affected, with students, civil servants and businessmen topping the list. Key Words: Atypical Aggressive Kaposi's sarcoma, HIV infection African Journal Of Clinical And Experimental Microbiology Jan 2004 Vol.5 No.1 46-5