title: Herpes-zoster and procarbazine therapy in patients with malignant glioma.
abstract: Procarbazine is effective in the treatment of malignant gliomas. We retrospectively reviewed all glioma patients treated with procarbazine at a dose of 150 mg/m2 daily for 28 days, every eight weeks, to determine incidence and prognostic factors associated with the development of Herpes Zoster. Ten of sixty-four (16%) patients developed Herpes Zoster infections; this group was found to have received a greater number of courses of procarbazine (5.1+/-1.2 v. 1.6+/-.2, p<.001) and have significantly less neutropenia when compared to the group receiving procarbazine who did not develop the infection. Infection developed at a median of 4.1+/-1.1 courses. Herpes Zoster infection is common in brain tumor patients taking procarbazine, and is associated with multiple drug courses and a normal WBC count. Immune function studies that could identify patients at high risk for Herpes Zoster might lead to the prophylactic use of acyclovir.
authors.affiliation: UNIV MICHIGAN,MED CTR,DEPT NEUROL,1914 TAUBMAN CTR 0316,1500 E MED CTR DR,ANN ARBOR,MI 48109. NIH,NCHGR,CANC GENET LAB,BETHESDA,MD 20892. OHIO STATE UNIV HOSP,DEPT NEUROL,COLUMBUS,OH 43210.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Junck
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Greenberg