A messenger at the door: cytomegalovirus retinitis in myeloma patients with progressive disease

Transpl Infect Dis. 2013 Aug;15(4):E134-8. doi: 10.1111/tid.12106. Epub 2013 Jun 23.

Abstract

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis is an uncommon manifestation of CMV disease and is a marker of severe and profound immunosuppression in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients. Here, we describe 2 cases of CMV retinitis in myeloma patients with progressive disease, following autologous stem cell transplantation and immunomodulatory therapy for myeloma. To our knowledge, this is the first report of CMV retinitis in this patient population. This report illustrates the need for close monitoring of relapsed and refractory myeloma patients for new presentations of opportunistic infections secondary to severe immunosuppression.

Keywords: CMV; myeloma; retinitis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cytomegalovirus / drug effects
  • Cytomegalovirus / genetics
  • Cytomegalovirus / isolation & purification*
  • Cytomegalovirus Retinitis / diagnosis*
  • Cytomegalovirus Retinitis / drug therapy
  • Cytomegalovirus Retinitis / virology
  • Dexamethasone / therapeutic use
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Ganciclovir / analogs & derivatives
  • Ganciclovir / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppression Therapy
  • Male
  • Multiple Myeloma / complications*
  • Multiple Myeloma / drug therapy
  • Multiple Myeloma / immunology
  • Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Valganciclovir

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Dexamethasone
  • Valganciclovir
  • Ganciclovir