Acyclovir to prevent reactivation of varicella zoster virus (herpes zoster) in multiple myeloma patients receiving bortezomib therapy

BACKGROUND: Humoral‐mediated as well as cell‐mediated immunity is compromised in myeloma patients receiving treatment. Immunocompromised patients are at risk of developing herpes zoster. There is evidence from clinical trials that bortezomib therapy is associated with a significant risk of herpes zo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cancer 2009-01, Vol.115 (1), p.229-232
Main Authors: Vickrey, Eric, Allen, Sharon, Mehta, Jayesh, Singhal, Seema
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
acyclovir
Acyclovir - therapeutic use
Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use
Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use
Biological and medical sciences
Boronic Acids - therapeutic use
Bortezomib
herpes zoster
Herpes Zoster - complications
Herpes Zoster - prevention & control
Herpesvirus 3, Human - drug effects
Human viral diseases
Humans
Infectious diseases
Medical sciences
Multiple Myeloma - complications
myeloma
Pyrazines - therapeutic use
Retrospective Studies
shingles
Tumors
varicella zoster
Varicella-zoster virus
Viral diseases
Viral diseases with cutaneous or mucosal lesions and viral diseases of the eye
Virus Activation - drug effects
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Summary:BACKGROUND: Humoral‐mediated as well as cell‐mediated immunity is compromised in myeloma patients receiving treatment. Immunocompromised patients are at risk of developing herpes zoster. There is evidence from clinical trials that bortezomib therapy is associated with a significant risk of herpes zoster. It is the authors' clinical policy to administer long‐term acyclovir prophylactically to all symptomatic myeloma patients. METHODS: A retrospective review of the records of 125 myeloma patients who were treated with bortezomib and who also received routine acyclovir prophylaxis at the dose of 400 mg daily in >80% of patients was undertaken. Alternatives, used in
ISSN:0008-543X
1097-0142
DOI:10.1002/cncr.24006