Kaposi's sarcoma associated with hairy cell leukemia, immune thrombocytopenia, and opportunistic infection

Abstract

A 73-year-old man developed Kaposi's sarcoma 6 years after the diagnosis of hairy-cell leukemia, at which time a splenectomy was performed. He received no additional treatment. The Kaposi's sarcoma was complicated by the development of immune thrombocytopenia and Listeria monocytogenes meningitis. Evaluation during the course of his disease revealed lymphopenia, decreased OKT4 + subset, and increased OKT8 + subset. The clinical and immunologic findings in this patient have similarities to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.