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Successful oral valganciclovir treatment of cytomegalovirus infection during Campath-1H therapy

Leukemia volume 19, page 478 (2005)Cite this article

TO THE EDITOR

Campath-1H is an effective treatment for patients with relapsed and refractory B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL),1,2 in consolidation in patients with CLL in first remission3 and T prolymphocytic leukemia,4 but can cause profound lymphocytopenia and deficient cell-mediated immunity. Between 15 and 20% of patients develop cytomegalovirus infection during Campath-1H treatment5,6 (Sah A et al., Blood, 2003; 102: 109a; abstract #372), and they are generally treated with daily intravenous infusions of ganciclovir or foscarnet. Oral valganciclovir is used to treat CMV retinitis in patients with AIDS.7 We report the cases of two patients who developed CMV infection during Campath-1H therapy and who were treated, with oral valganciclovir. An indirect immunofluorescence assay with a detection limit of one infected leukocyte per 200 000 leukocytes was used to detect CMV antigenemia (phosphoprotein 65).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Service d'Onco-Hematologie Hôpital René Dubos, Pontoise, France

    H González

  2. Service d'Hématologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, GHPS, Paris, France

    J P Vernant

  3. Service de Maladies Infectieuses, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, GHPS, Paris, France

    E Caumes

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  1. H González
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  2. J P Vernant
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  3. E Caumes
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Correspondence to H González.

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González, H., Vernant, J. & Caumes, E. Successful oral valganciclovir treatment of cytomegalovirus infection during Campath-1H therapy. Leukemia 19, 478 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2403636

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