IV Ganciclovir May Help Prevent DMV Reactivation after Sub Q Campath

[Guest guest]

Leuk Lymphoma. 2006 Dec;47(12):2542-6.

An observational study of once weekly intravenous ganciclovir as CMV

prophylaxis in heavily pre-treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia

patients receiving subcutaneous alemtuzumab.Visani G, Mele A,

Guiducci B, D'adamo F, Leopardi G, Barulli S, Malerba L, Lucesole M,

Sparaventi G, Piccaluga PP, Guernaccini E, Agostinelli F, Isidori A.

Department of Hematology, San Salvatore Hospital, Pesaro, Italy.

Fifteen consecutive resistant/relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia

(CLL) patients (median age: 65 years) received alemtuzumab for 16

consecutive weeks. All patients had negative CMV anti genemia at

baseline.

Five patients received oral acyclovir 800 mg twice a day for CMV

prophylaxis and 10 patients got intravenous (iv) ganciclovir 7.5

mg/kg once a week. A total of five CMV reactivations occurred, four

in the acyclovir and one in the ganciclovir prophylaxis group.

Alemtuzumab was then discontinued and all patients were treated with

iv ganciclovir 7.5 mg/kg per day.

All patients achieved negative CMV anti genemia after a median of 15

days of therapy.

Weekly iv ganciclovir prophylaxis and alemtuzumab treatment were

then restarted without any further CMV reactivations.

In conclusion, weekly iv ganciclovir appears feasible and effective

in preventing CMV reactivation and disease in this setting of high-

risk immunocompromised patients, allowing an easier management of a

therapy otherwise difficult to be routinely used.

PMID: 17169798 [PubMed - in process]