Prognostic factors and staging classification of patients with epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma.
Two hundred twelve patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) were followed prospectively. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine significant predictors of survival and development of opportunistic infection (OI) from the time of diagnosis of KS. Clinical variables analyzed were age at onset, presence of systemic symptoms, prior or coexistent OI, development of OI greater than 3 months following KS diagnosis, and extent of disease. Laboratory variables analyzed were absolute number of peripheral T-helper lymphocytes (T4), helper/suppressor ratio (T4/T8), serum beta-2-microglobulin, and serum acid labile alfa interferon. Three independent variables were predictive of shorter survival: (1) prior or coexistent OI (P = .02), (2) presence of systemic symptoms (P = .001), and (3) absolute T4 count less than 300 cells/microL (P = .002). Based on survival, patients with AIDS-related KS can be divided into four groups: (1) those with no prior or coexistent OI, no systemic symptoms, T4 greater than or equal to 300 cells/microL (median survival, 31 months): (2) those with no prior or coexistent OI, no systemic symptoms, and T4 less than 300 cells/microL (median survival, 20 months); (3) those with no prior or coexistent OI and presence of systemic symptoms (median survival, 15 months); and (4) those with prior or coexistent OI (median survival, 7 months).