title: Patients with multiple myeloma may safely undergo autologous transplantation despite ongoing RSV infection and no ribavirin therapy.
abstract: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has been reported as a cause of death among autologous peripheral blood stem cell (ASCT) and marrow recipients and recommendations for therapy with aerosolized ribavirin plus intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) made. This therapy is expensive, may be toxic, and causes a significant disruption of patient care. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the morbidity and mortality of RSV infections in patients with multiple myeloma undergoing ASCT without ribavirin therapy. During the months of February-April 1997, 10 consecutive patients (median age 57 years, seven males) with advanced and heavily pretreated myeloma underwent ASCT while having active RSV upper respiratory tract infection. After melphalan (200 mg/m2), all patients became neutropenic (<1000 cells/mm3) for a median of 7 days. Ribavirin was not given to any patient. No patient developed lower respiratory tract infection, required transfer to intensive care or died at a median follow-up of 8 months. One patient developed tracheobronchitis requiring oxygenation by nasal cannula. No delay in the treatment of the underlying myeloma was incurred. RSV infection may not necessarily be a contraindication for ASCT or an indication for therapy with aerosolized ribavirin. Additional studies are needed to confirm our preliminary findings.
authors.affiliation: The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Cancer Research Center, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aslan
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Fassas
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Desikan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Siegel
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Munshi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singhal
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Barlogie
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Anaissie
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000191:economics; D019172:Transplantation Conditioning / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D012254:Ribavirin; D008558:Melphalan