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The high incidence of varicella herpes zoster with the use of bortezomib in 10 patients
Author(s) -
Tong Yin,
Qian Jie,
Li Ying,
Meng Hai,
Jin Jie
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
american journal of hematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.456
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1096-8652
pISSN - 0361-8609
DOI - 10.1002/ajh.20838
Subject(s) - medicine , bortezomib , multiple myeloma , incidence (geometry) , acute myeloblastic leukemia , dexamethasone , proteasome inhibitor , immunosuppression , varicella zoster virus , shingles , leukemia , lymphoma , refractory (planetary science) , dermatology , oncology , immunology , virus , physics , astrobiology , optics
Bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor, has been used for patients with refractory and relapsed multiple myeloma, lymphoma and leukemia. We used bortezomib in ten refractory or relapsed patients (seven of multiple myeloma, two of lymphoma and one of acute myeloblastic leukemia). Six out of ten (60%) patients developed varicella herpes zoster after the complete of one cycle of bortezomib. The incidence of varicella herpes zoster was higher than reported in the literature. It may be due to immunosuppression caused by the combination of high‐dose dexamethasone or other drugs. We considered that prophylactic antiviral medication could be used in predisposed patients to reduce the incidence of varicella herpes zoster. Am. J. Hematol., 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.