Sustained ventricular tachycardia in a thalidomide-treated patient with primary plasma-cell leukemia.
BACKGROUND
A 68-year-old man diagnosed with primary plasma-cell leukemia was given thalidomide maintenance treatment for his disease. He had previously failed induction therapy with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, adriamycin, and dexamethasone, but achieved complete remission after melphalan therapy. Multiple syncopal episodes started to occur during thalidomide treatment, and a Holter electrocardiogram showed multiple abnormalities, with an episode of sustained ventricular tachycardia.


METHODS
Blood tests, peripheral blood smear, bone-marrow biopsy and aspirate, Holter electrocardiogram.


METHODS
Sustained ventricular tachycardia possibly owing to thalidomide treatment.


RESULTS
Thalidomide withdrawal, dexamethasone maintenance therapy, monthly oral courses of combined melphalan and prednisone, salvage therapy with bortezomib.
Ballanti
Stelvio
S
Institute of Hematology, Perugia University and IbiT Foundation, Perugia, Italy.
Mastrodicasa
Elena
E
Bolli
Niccolò
N
Lotti
Flavia
F
Capolsini
Ilaria
I
Berchicci
Laura
L
Merigiola
Carla
C
Giordano
Giampiero
G
Tabilio
Antonio
A
D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007952:Leukemia, Plasma Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000009:adverse effects*
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D013792:Thalidomide