Is valganciclovir really effective in primary effusion lymphoma: case report of an HIV(-) EBV(-) HHV8(+) patient.

Abstract

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) associated lymphoproliferative disease characterized by effusions in body cavities, and lack of tumor mass. Valganciclovir is a treatment option in PEL, however, little is known about its clinical efficacy. Ganciclovir has been reported to be effective in HHV8(+) multicentric Castleman's disease (MCD) by decreasing the plasma HHV8 load, which is an important factor in the induction and persistence of MCD, Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), and PEL. But there is no information about the efficacy of valganciclovir on HHV8 associated lymphoproliferative diseases. Here, we present the first EBV and HIV negative, HHV8 positive PEL case treated with valganciclovir; for whom it initially reduced the viral load leading to a transient partial improvement in the clinical status, but failed to induce a complete and durable remission.

• Authors: Murat Ozbalak, Ilyas Tokatlı, Metin Özdemirli, Tülay Tecimer, Muhlis Cem Ar, Serdar Örnek, Aykut Koroglu, Yahya Laleli, Burhan Ferhanoglu
• Journal: European journal of haematology (Eur J Haematol) Vol. 91 Issue 5 Pg. 467-9 (Nov 2013) ISSN: 1600-0609 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23865480 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Valganciclovir
• Ganciclovir

Topics

• Aged
• Antiviral Agents (therapeutic use)
• Fatal Outcome
• Ganciclovir (analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Herpesviridae Infections (complications, drug therapy, pathology)
• Herpesvirus 8, Human (drug effects, pathogenicity, physiology)
• Humans
• Lymphoma, Primary Effusion (complications, drug therapy, pathology)
• Male
• Treatment Failure
• Valganciclovir
• Viral Load (drug effects)