Perplexity on K.S. and AIDS and inflammation
Discuss the issue of K.S. happening despite ART use Kaposi sarcoma (KS) can and does occur in people living with HIV, even when they are on effective antiretroviral therapy (ART). While ART has dramatically reduced the incidence and severity of KS, several important points explain why KS still happens despite ART use: Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome (IRIS): Some individuals develop KS or see it worsen shortly after starting ART, in what is known as KS-IRIS. This is thought to be due to immune system recovery leading to a paradoxical inflammatory response, which can unmask or exacerbate KS—even when HIV viral load drops and CD4 counts begin to rise. Rapidly disseminated or aggressive KS has been reported in these cases, sometimes within months of starting ART. Persistent Risk Despite Good Immune Recovery: Studies have documented cases of KS in patients who maintain undetectable HIV viral loads and normal CD4 counts for years. This includes long-term HIV survivors and o...