Korean J Med.
2009 May;76(5):551-553.
Malignancies in HIV-infected patients
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection can produce profound defects in cell-mediated immunity, and HIV-infected patients have a markedly increased incidence of malignancies. Kaposi's sarcoma was the first malignancy to be recognized as a cancer defining acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is also associated with AIDS. HIV-infected patients are also at increased risk of developing cancers related to human papilloma virus, such as cervical cancer and anal cancer. As the life expectancy of HIV-infected patients has increased dramatically with advances in anti-retroviral therapy, the screening and prevention of malignancies should be included in the management of HIV-infected individuals.