skip to main content

Visceral KS Chemotherapy — SCE Infectious Diseases MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

ModerateHIV MedicineVisceral KS ChemotherapySCE Infectious Diseases

A 30-year-old man with HIV develops Kaposi sarcoma involving the GI tract (confirmed on endoscopy with biopsy). He is on effective ART (CD4 380, VL <50). The KS is causing GI bleeding. What systemic treatment is indicated?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: D — Liposomal Doxorubicin (Caelyx) — symptomatic visceral/GI KS requires systemic chemotherapy even with well-controlled HIV

Symptomatic visceral KS (GI bleeding, pulmonary involvement with respiratory compromise, lymphoedema) requires systemic chemotherapy regardless of HIV control status. Liposomal pegylated Doxorubicin (Caelyx) is first-line. Paclitaxel is second-line. ART alone may be sufficient for limited cutaneous KS but cannot control symptomatic visceral disease. The combination of ART plus chemotherapy achieves the best outcomes. GI KS lesions are typically submucosal violaceous nodules visible at endoscopy — they can bleed significantly.

Reference: BHIVA 2022 – HIV-associated malignancy; NICE 2023 – KS