Outcomes of patients with Kaposi's sarcomawho start antiretroviral therapy under routine programme conditions in Malawi

AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is the most common AIDS-relatedmalignancy in sub-Saharan Africa, with a generally unfavourable prognosis. We report on six-month and12-month cohort treatment outcomes of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive KS patients and HIV-positive non-KS patients treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART) in public sector facilities in Malawi. Data were collected from standardized antiretroviral (ARV) patientmaster cards and ARV patient registers. Between July and September 2005, 7905 patients started ART-488 (6%) with a diagnosis of KS and 7417 with a non-KS diagnosis. Between January and March 2005, 4580 patients started ART-326 (7%) with a diagnosis of KS and 4254 with a non-KS diagnosis. At six-months and12-months, significantly fewer KS patients were alive and significantlymore had died or defaulted compared to non-KS patients. HIV-positive KS patients on ART in Malawi haveworse outcomes than other patients on ART. Methods designed to improve these outcomes must be found.