Illustration of lungs with tumor and normal growth, representing Kaposi's Sarcoma treatment.

Steroids to the Rescue? A Rare Case of Kaposi's Sarcoma Treatment

Samir D’Costa in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"When HIV treatment falters, a dangerous condition called Kaposi's Sarcoma can emerge. But in a unique case, doctors found an unexpected ally: steroids."

Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS) is a type of cancer that develops from cells that line blood and lymph vessels. It's often linked to infection with the human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) and is more common in people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV. While KS often appears as skin lesions, it can also affect the lungs and other organs.

Typically, treating KS involves a combination of therapies, including addressing the underlying HIV infection with antiretroviral therapy (ART) and using chemotherapy drugs like liposomal doxorubicin. However, in some cases, the immune system can overreact as it recovers, leading to a condition called immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS), which can paradoxically worsen KS symptoms.

Now, doctors share a case of a patient with severe KS affecting his airway. Initial treatments had limited success, but an unexpected intervention – steroids – proved crucial in managing the condition. This case highlights the complexities of treating KS and the potential for unconventional approaches when standard therapies fall short.

When Standard Treatments Aren't Enough: A Patient's Story

Illustration of lungs with tumor and normal growth, representing Kaposi's Sarcoma treatment.

A man in his 30s with a history of HIV stopped his regular treatments. He developed a range of worrying symptoms, including recurring fever, sore throat, and a hoarse voice. Doctors discovered purplish tumors in his mouth, swollen lymph nodes, and skin lesions. Tests confirmed he had Kaposi's Sarcoma, with widespread disease affecting his lungs and airways.

The patient's condition quickly deteriorated, leading to severe airway obstruction that required him to be placed on a ventilator in the intensive care unit (ICU). Doctors immediately started him on ART to combat the HIV infection and began chemotherapy with liposomal doxorubicin to target the KS tumors.

Initial Improvement: The combination of ART and chemotherapy initially helped to control the disease. The patient was eventually able to come off the ventilator and leave the hospital.
Unexpected Setback: After discharge, a follow-up scan revealed new areas of KS in his lungs. This raised concerns about IRIS, where the recovering immune system was actually contributing to the problem.
A Risky Decision: Due to side effects from previous treatments, doctors were hesitant to use chemotherapy again. Instead, they made the unusual choice to try a short course of steroids to dampen down the immune system's overreaction.

Remarkably, the steroids worked. The patient's lung lesions shrank, and he remained stable for two years without further KS recurrence. This case suggests that in certain situations, steroids can be a valuable tool for managing KS-IRIS when other options are limited.

What Does This Mean for KS Treatment?

This case offers a valuable lesson for doctors treating Kaposi's Sarcoma. While ART and chemotherapy remain the cornerstones of treatment, it highlights the importance of considering IRIS as a potential complication.

The successful use of steroids in this case suggests that they can be a safe and effective option for managing KS-IRIS in carefully selected patients, particularly when other treatments have failed or are not well-tolerated.

Further research is needed to determine the optimal role of steroids in KS treatment and to identify which patients are most likely to benefit from this approach. However, this case offers a glimmer of hope for those facing the challenges of KS and IRIS.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

Everything You Need To Know

What exactly is Kaposi's Sarcoma?

Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS) is a cancer that originates in the cells lining blood and lymph vessels. It's frequently associated with the human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) and is more prevalent in individuals with compromised immune systems, such as those with HIV. KS can manifest as skin lesions, but it can also impact the lungs and other internal organs, illustrating its potential severity and the need for effective treatments.

How is Kaposi's Sarcoma typically treated?

Typically, the treatment for Kaposi's Sarcoma involves a dual approach: managing the underlying HIV infection with antiretroviral therapy (ART) and directly targeting the KS tumors with chemotherapy drugs like liposomal doxorubicin. ART is essential to rebuild the immune system, while chemotherapy aims to destroy the cancerous cells. However, the immune system's recovery can sometimes lead to immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS), which can worsen KS symptoms, complicating the treatment process.

What role did steroids play in this specific case?

In the case mentioned, the doctors used steroids as an unconventional treatment approach for a patient whose Kaposi's Sarcoma had severely affected his airway. Standard treatments such as Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) and chemotherapy using liposomal doxorubicin had initially shown some success. However, a subsequent setback, potentially linked to Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome (IRIS), prompted the use of steroids to calm the overactive immune response, demonstrating a shift in strategy when standard therapies were insufficient.

What is Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome (IRIS) and how does it relate to Kaposi's Sarcoma?

Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome (IRIS) occurs when the immune system, recovering from HIV treatment, overreacts and exacerbates conditions like Kaposi's Sarcoma. In the patient's situation, the initial treatments with ART and chemotherapy were effective. However, the follow-up scan revealed new areas of KS in his lungs. The medical team suspected IRIS was contributing to the problem, leading to the consideration of steroids to control the overactive immune response.

What is the significance of this case for the treatment of Kaposi's Sarcoma?

The use of steroids in this case highlights an important consideration for doctors treating Kaposi's Sarcoma. While Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) and chemotherapy remain the primary treatments, doctors should consider the potential for Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome (IRIS). The successful use of steroids suggests that in specific scenarios, they can serve as a valuable tool in managing KS-IRIS when conventional therapies are limited or have failed. This shows that doctors must tailor their approach to the individual patient's situation and the potential for unconventional treatments.