RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Daily 500 mg Valacyclovir Is Effective for Prevention of Varicella Zoster Virus Reactivation in Patients with Multiple Myeloma Treated with Bortezomib
JF Anticancer Research
JO Anticancer Res
FD International Institute of Anticancer Research
SP 5437
OP 5440
VO 32
IS 12
A1 FUKUSHIMA, TOSHIHIRO
A1 SATO, TOMOMI
A1 NAKAMURA, TAKUJI
A1 IWAO, HARUKA
A1 NAKAJIMA, AKIO
A1 MIKI, MIYUKI
A1 SAKAI, TOMOYUKI
A1 KAWANAMI, TAKAFUMI
A1 SAWAKI, TOSHIOKI
A1 FUJITA, YOSHIMASA
A1 TANAKA, MASAO
A1 MASAKI, YASUFUMI
A1 OKAZAKI, TOSHIRO
A1 NAKAJIMA, HIDEO
A1 MOTOO, YOSHIHARU
A1 UMEHARA, HISANORI
YR 2012
UL http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/32/12/5437.abstract
AB Background: In patients with multiple myeloma (MM), bortezomib is associated with a significant risk of Varicella zoster virus (VZV) reactivation. There are some reports that acyclovir reduces the risk of VZV reactivation. We assessed whether VZV reactivation could be reduced by using prophylactic valacyclovir at a dose of 500 mg daily. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 32 patients with MM who received bortezomib and valacyclovir prophylaxis at the Kanazawa Medical University Hospital. Patients received valacyclovir prophylaxis orally at a dose of 500 mg daily, without cessation during bortezomib treatment. Results: The median age was 69 years (range=45-90 years). Fifteen patients were male and seventeen were female. The median bortezomib dose was 37.0 mg/m2 (range=5.2-167.6 mg/m2). All patients also received corticosteroids. The median duration of valacyclovir prophylaxis was 301 days (range=24-1206 days) and the median valacyclovir dose was 150.5 g (range=12-603 g). VZV reactivation developed in only one patient during valacyclovir prophylaxis. VZV reactivation did not develop in three patients who had a past history of VZV reactivation without valacyclovir prophylaxis. Adverse events over grade 3 associated with valacyclovir were not observed. Conclusion: Valacyclovir at a dose of 500 mg daily appears to be effective at preventing VZV reactivation and was well-tolerated by patients with MM who received bortezomib.