The immunological effects of concomitant highly active antiretroviral therapy and liposomal anthracycline treatment of HIV-1-associated Kaposi's sarcoma

A combination of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and liposomal anthracycline chemotherapy is the standard of care for advanced HIV-associated Kaposi's sarcoma, despite concerns that the chemotherapy may adversely affect lymphocyte subsets and HIV viraemia. We showed in 50 patients that liposomal anthracyclines used with HAART did not lead to a significant loss of CD4 or CD8 cells or an increase in HIV-1 viral load during or up to 12 months after chemotherapy.