Kaposi sarcoma in the setting of cushing disease.

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative Kaposi sarcoma (KS) associated with Cushing disease (CD). METHODS: The details of case presentation, evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment are presented and cases of KS and CD published before November 1, 2010 on PubMed and Scopus are reviewed. RESULTS: A 54-year-old Hispanic HIV-negative man presented with typical signs and symptoms of CD (easy bruisability, proximal muscle wasting, and abdominal fat pads). Numerous raised, purplish, nonblanching plaques 0.5 to 2 cm in diameter extended throughout his lower extremities. Biochemical tests and pituitary magnetic resonance imaging confirmed CD. A lesion biopsy showed atypical vascular proliferation positive by immunohistochemistry for human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), consistent with KS. He underwent 2 transsphenoidal surgeries followed by a bilateral adrenalectomy. After recovery, his KS was treated with a systemic combination of liposomal doxorubicin and paclitaxel. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of CD and KS is rare. Specific therapy for CD and chemotherapy for KS are effective in the treatment of KS associated with CD.

Treatment and prevention of vitamin D insufficiency in cystic fibrosis patients: comparative efficacy of ergocalciferol, cholecalciferol, and UV light.

BACKGROUND: The optimal treatment for correcting or preventing vitamin D insufficiency in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients has not been established. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess the relative efficacy of three modes of vitamin D therapy: cholecalciferol (D3), ergocalciferol (D2), and UV light in raising or maintaining 25(OH)D levels above 30 ng/ml. DESIGN: Thirty adult CF subjects with vitamin D insufficiency were randomized into one of three treatment arms: D3, D2, or UV light. Subjects randomized to D3 or D2 ingested 50,000 IU of vitamin D weekly, and those randomized to UV exposed their skin to UV light from a lamp five times a week. Serum was collected for 25(OH)D and PTH at baseline and at 12 wk. RESULTS: Treatment with D3 and D2 raised 25(OH)D levels significantly, from a mean of 21.2 +/- 10.18 to 47.1 +/- 20.5 ng/ml (P < 0.001) and 24.4 +/- 10.3 to 32.7+/- 9.7 ng/ml (P = 0.01), with 100% and 60% reaching 25(OH)D levels above 30 ng/ml, respectively. Treatment with UV did not raise 25(OH)D levels significantly; however, only 55% of subjects were adherent with UV therapy. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that CF subjects are able to achieve or maintain optimal vitamin D status (>30 ng/ml) with two oral regimens of either D3 or D2 treatment, the former being more efficacious. A confounding variable for this observation is the fact that the D3 and D2 capsules contained different carriers, powder-based vs. oil-based, respectively. UV therapy did not alter vitamin D status, possibly due to poor adherence to UV therapy.

Alterations in vitamin D status and anti-microbial peptide levels in patients in the intensive care unit with sepsis.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D insufficiency is common in hospitalized patients. Recent evidence suggests that vitamin D may enhance the innate immune response by induction of cathelicidin (LL-37), an endogenous antimicrobial peptide produced by macrophages and neutrophils. Thus, the relationship between vitamin D status and LL-37 production may be of importance for host immunity, but little data is available on this subject, especially in the setting of human sepsis syndrome and other critical illness. METHODS: Plasma concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), vitamin D binding protein (DBP) and LL-37 in critically ill adult subjects admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) with sepsis and without sepsis were compared to healthy controls. RESULTS: Critically ill subjects had significantly lower plasma 25(OH)D concentrations compared to healthy controls. Mean plasma LL-37 levels were significantly lower in critically ill subjects compared to healthy controls. Vitamin D binding protein levels in plasma were significantly lower in critically ill subjects with sepsis compared to critically ill subjects without sepsis. There was a significant positive association between circulating 25(OH)D and LL-37 levels. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates an association between critical illness and lower 25(OH)D and DBP levels in critically ill patients as compared to healthy controls. It also establishes a positive association between vitamin D status and plasma LL-37, which suggests that systemic LL-37 levels may be regulated by vitamin D status. Optimal vitamin D status may be important for innate immunity especially in the setting of sepsis. Further invention studies to examine this association are warranted.