TY - JOUR
T1 - Decrease in CD4+ T-Cell counts in patients with multiple myeloma treated with bortezomib
AU - Heider, Ulrike
AU - Rademacher, Jessica
AU - Kaiser, Martin
AU - Kleeberg, Lorenz
AU - Von Metzler, Ivana
AU - Sezer, Orhan
PY - 2010/4
Y1 - 2010/4
N2 - Background: Bortezomib is highly effective in multiple myeloma and is widely used in this disease. Recently, an increased incidence of varicella zoster virus (VZV) reactivation was reported in patients with myeloma undergoing bortezomib treatment. Patients and Methods: We investigated the influence of bortezomib on T-Cell subpopulations in 53 patients with myeloma before initiation of bortezomib and during therapy. Results: A decrease of CD4 + T Cells was seen in 41 of 53 patients (77%). The median CD3+/CD4+ lymphocyte counts declined from 494/μL (range, 130-2187/μL) to 274/μL (range, 41-1404/μL) during bortezomib treatment (P <.001). In the majority of patients (40 of 53 patients, 75%), CD4 + lymphocytes dropped to <400/μL during bortezomib treatment, and in 18 of 53 patients (33.9%) the CD4+ T Cells fell below 200/μL. The minimum CD4+ cell count was observed at a median of 6 weeks (range, 2-22 weeks) after initiation of treatment. The incidence of herpes zoster reactivation was 5.7% in the whole population of patients with myeloma receiving bortezomib. Nineteen of 53 patients received acyclovir at a dose of 400 mg daily as prophylaxis against VZV reactivation. In this group, none of the patients developed herpes zoster. The incidence of VZV reactivation in patients not receiving acyclovir was 3 of 34 (8.8%). Importantly, occurrence of herpes zoster was associated with reduced CD4+ T-Cell subpopulation: all patients who developed herpes zoster had CD4+ lymphocytes <400/μL. Conclusion: Our results show that bortezomib leads to a transient decrease in CD4+ lymphocytes, accompanied by an increased incidence of VZV infections. The antiviral prophylaxis with acyclovir is effective in patients with myeloma treated with bortezomib.
AB - Background: Bortezomib is highly effective in multiple myeloma and is widely used in this disease. Recently, an increased incidence of varicella zoster virus (VZV) reactivation was reported in patients with myeloma undergoing bortezomib treatment. Patients and Methods: We investigated the influence of bortezomib on T-Cell subpopulations in 53 patients with myeloma before initiation of bortezomib and during therapy. Results: A decrease of CD4 + T Cells was seen in 41 of 53 patients (77%). The median CD3+/CD4+ lymphocyte counts declined from 494/μL (range, 130-2187/μL) to 274/μL (range, 41-1404/μL) during bortezomib treatment (P <.001). In the majority of patients (40 of 53 patients, 75%), CD4 + lymphocytes dropped to <400/μL during bortezomib treatment, and in 18 of 53 patients (33.9%) the CD4+ T Cells fell below 200/μL. The minimum CD4+ cell count was observed at a median of 6 weeks (range, 2-22 weeks) after initiation of treatment. The incidence of herpes zoster reactivation was 5.7% in the whole population of patients with myeloma receiving bortezomib. Nineteen of 53 patients received acyclovir at a dose of 400 mg daily as prophylaxis against VZV reactivation. In this group, none of the patients developed herpes zoster. The incidence of VZV reactivation in patients not receiving acyclovir was 3 of 34 (8.8%). Importantly, occurrence of herpes zoster was associated with reduced CD4+ T-Cell subpopulation: all patients who developed herpes zoster had CD4+ lymphocytes <400/μL. Conclusion: Our results show that bortezomib leads to a transient decrease in CD4+ lymphocytes, accompanied by an increased incidence of VZV infections. The antiviral prophylaxis with acyclovir is effective in patients with myeloma treated with bortezomib.
KW - Acyclovir
KW - Herpes virus
KW - Opportunistic infection
KW - Proteasome
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U2 - 10.3816/CLML.2010.n.019
DO - 10.3816/CLML.2010.n.019
M3 - Article
C2 - 20371447
AN - SCOPUS:77954684675
SN - 2152-2650
VL - 10
SP - 134
EP - 137
JO - Clinical Lymphoma, Myeloma and Leukemia
JF - Clinical Lymphoma, Myeloma and Leukemia
IS - 2
ER -