Causes
The most likely cause of Kaposi's sarcoma is the combination of immune suppression, as occurs with HIV infection or immunosuppressant therapy after an organ transplant, and exposure to the human herpesvirus 8 (HHV 8), a sexually transmitted infection.
While the condition is most prevalent among sexually active homosexual and bisexual males with HIV, the improvement in the medical treatment of HIV appears to have reduced the incidence of this condition. The incidence of the condition in heterosexual people with HIV is far lower.