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A rare case of interstitial pneumonitis after tandem high‐dose melphalan conditioning and autologous stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma
Author(s) -
BuxhoferAusch Veronika,
Ruckser Reinhard,
Kier Peter,
Habertheuer Karl Heinz,
Zelenka Peter,
Tatzreiter Georg,
Ausch Christoph,
Schmid Isabel,
Hruby Walter,
ReinerConcin Angelika,
Sebesta Christian,
Ogris Emil,
HinterbergerFischer Margareta,
Hinterberger Wolfgang
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
european journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0902-4441
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0609.2004.00276.x
Subject(s) - melphalan , medicine , multiple myeloma , methylprednisolone , transplantation , surgery , pneumonitis , lung
A 57‐yr‐old woman with multiple myeloma received an autologous tandem transplant at a 4‐month interval. She was conditioned twice with 225 mg/m 2 melphalan. After the second transplant, interstitial pneumonitis (IP) ensued. The clinical course was life threatening and mechanical ventilation was required for 32 d. All attempts to identify an infectious agent failed. A presumptive diagnosis of idiopathic IP, possibly related to melphalan toxicity, was made. High‐dose methylprednisolone administration led to rapid and durable improvement. Melphalan was employed for conditioning in the tandem setting with an interval of only 3–4 months between two courses or a dose elevation to 225 instead of 200 mg/m 2 , may have induced IP which responded favorably to methylprednisolone.