A study to determine the influence of chemotherapy on outcomes of aids-associated muco-cutaneous kaposis’ sarcoma at Kenyatta National Hospital

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Kaposi’s sarcoma is the most common tumor in HIV infected patients in Africa. In Kenya over the last five years, there have been few studies which have investigated the treatment outcomes KS in HIV positive persons. This study investigated the treatment outcomes of AIDS-associated KS among patients attending KNH. Objectives: To determine the treatment outcomes of patients with AIDS-associated mucocutaneos KS at KNH. Study Design: Retrospective chart review Materials and Methods: Records of patients with histology confirmed KS and who are HIV positive and had undergone treatment for KS were reviewed. Data collected included: sociodemographic, clinical, treatment modality and treatment outcomes. The treatment outcomes had been defined in this protocol. Data Management: Data was entered continuously into a secure database and analyzed using SPSS version 18. Continuous data was presented as mean and median. Categorical data was presented as proportions. Cox proportional hazard model was used to determine association of sex, HAART use and outcomes. Results: Females represented 53% of the study population. The median age of the study subjects was 35.3 years. There was a response rate of 16.5% to KS treatment. The difference in outcomes between males and females was insignificant (p=0.693). In addition, the outcomes between those on HAART and those not on HAART was also insignificant (p=0.557). Conclusion: The short term outcome of patients with HIV-associated muco-cutaneous KS receiving chemotherapy was unfavourable