Opportunistic cytomegalovirus infection in a patient receiving temozolomide for treatment of malignant glioma.
Treatment of malignant gliomas has changed substantially over the last few years. An oral alkylating agent, temozolomide, has become the standard agent for glioma management. Although it is generally well tolerated, it can cause lymphopenia and may lead to opportunistic infections. We report on a patient with malignant glioma who developed opportunistic cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonia following the termination of temozolomide therapy. The patient was admitted with acute dyspnea, fever and hypoxia, and she was diagnosed with CMV pneumonitis using a PCR-based CMV-DNA analysis. After treatment with ganciclovir, she recovered dramatically. To our knowledge, although there have been reported cases of Pneumocystis carinii infection associated with temozolomide therapy, there has only been one other case of CMV infection. We also review this report.
Yaman
Emel
E
Department of Medical Oncology, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara 06500, Turkey.
Coskun
Ugur
U
Ozturk
Banu
B
Buyukberber
Suleyman
S
Kaya
Ali Osman
AO
Coskun
Ozlem
O
Buyukberber
Nuray
N
Yildiz
Ramazan
R
Benekli
Mustafa
M
D000284:Administration, Oral; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D000077204:Temozolomide; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D004279:DNA, Viral; D003606:Dacarbazine; D000077204:Temozolomide