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Ask the Experts about AIDS-Related Cancers

 

ks with low viral load
Nov 11, 2002

I was just diagnosed with KS even though my viral load is low. My doctor says that he is now seeing more KS with low viral load....are you? Also what should my treatment be? he wants me to be treated with doxil.

Response from Dr. Dezube

Although KS is most common in patients with low CD4 counts and high viral loads, I certainly have seen quite a few patients who have extensive KS despite having a high CD4 count and a low viral load. One of my patients with extremely aggressive KS indeed has a CD4 count well over 1000 and an undetectable viral load.

As for treatment, Doxil is a good drug. It has a liposomal formulation which causes it to attack the KS lesions without causing too much side effects. I can't comment on your specific case without knowing more of the details, but it sounds to me that your doctor is right on track. Good luck.



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