Posters
Academic Level (Author 1)
Medical Student
Discipline/Specialty (Author 1)
Internal Medicine
Discipline Track
Clinical Science
Abstract
The progression of HIV to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is characterized by a CD4 cell-count below 200, and/or the development of an AIDS-defining illness. Kaposi’s sarcoma is a malignant tumor that manifests as violaceous skin lesions, occurring predominately in immunosuppressed patients.
Patient is a 37-year-old male with no past medical history who presented with a 4-month history of rapid, unintentional 60lbs weight loss and worsening dysphagia. He further noted multiple dark purple, raised skin lesions on his back and extremities appearing 9 months ago. Patient was uninsured and without a primary care physician. Labs revealed elevated monocytes and a dangerously low WBC count of 1.4. Additional workup revealed the patient to be HIV+ with a CD4 count of 2 (ref:359-1519). The patient’s labs continued to downtrend developing a critically low neutrophil, hemoglobin, and WBC counts. Neutropenic precautions were started to limit contact and treatment was initiated. Biopsy of the skin lesions revealed a diagnosis of Kaposi's sarcoma.
While Texas ranks 7th in the country for new diagnoses of HIV, the CDC estimates up to 17% of HIV+ individuals (in Texas) still remain unaware of their status. South Texas is home to the nation’s largest population of uninsured persons, of which over 30% live below the federal poverty level. These social circumstances pose significant barriers to accessing health care, resulting in an increasing rate of late-stage HIV/AIDS diagnoses and related deaths. Proper education about HIV prevention/transmission, high-risk behaviors, and the impact of testing will ultimately serve to decrease fatal outcomes.
Presentation Type
Poster
Recommended Citation
Haj-Yahya, Khairiya and Singleterry, Rodolfo, "Ka“Posing” a Problem in an Already Problematic Situation: A Case of Kaposi’s Sarcoma in HIV" (2023). Research Colloquium. 9.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/colloquium/presentation/poster/9
Included in
Ka“Posing” a Problem in an Already Problematic Situation: A Case of Kaposi’s Sarcoma in HIV
The progression of HIV to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is characterized by a CD4 cell-count below 200, and/or the development of an AIDS-defining illness. Kaposi’s sarcoma is a malignant tumor that manifests as violaceous skin lesions, occurring predominately in immunosuppressed patients.
Patient is a 37-year-old male with no past medical history who presented with a 4-month history of rapid, unintentional 60lbs weight loss and worsening dysphagia. He further noted multiple dark purple, raised skin lesions on his back and extremities appearing 9 months ago. Patient was uninsured and without a primary care physician. Labs revealed elevated monocytes and a dangerously low WBC count of 1.4. Additional workup revealed the patient to be HIV+ with a CD4 count of 2 (ref:359-1519). The patient’s labs continued to downtrend developing a critically low neutrophil, hemoglobin, and WBC counts. Neutropenic precautions were started to limit contact and treatment was initiated. Biopsy of the skin lesions revealed a diagnosis of Kaposi's sarcoma.
While Texas ranks 7th in the country for new diagnoses of HIV, the CDC estimates up to 17% of HIV+ individuals (in Texas) still remain unaware of their status. South Texas is home to the nation’s largest population of uninsured persons, of which over 30% live below the federal poverty level. These social circumstances pose significant barriers to accessing health care, resulting in an increasing rate of late-stage HIV/AIDS diagnoses and related deaths. Proper education about HIV prevention/transmission, high-risk behaviors, and the impact of testing will ultimately serve to decrease fatal outcomes.