Nitrite inhalant abuse and AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma.

There is sufficient clinical and epidemiological evidence to suggest that HIV infection alone does not cause Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) in AIDS. Several possible "cofactors" have been proposed. There are several reasons to consider nitrite inhalants as a plausible choice as the KS cofactor. Identifying the KS cofactor in AIDS could prove valuable for prevention of the most common cancer afflicting AIDS patients. Clarifying the mechanisms by which HIV infection and the KS cofactor produce disease may have implications for other cancers and diseases.