HERPES-ZOSTER AND PROCARBAZINE THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH MALIGNANT GLIOMA

  • Authors:
    • BC LIANG
    • HB NEWTON
    • L JUNCK
    • HS GREENBERG
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: July 1, 1994     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.5.1.97
  • Pages: 97-100
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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.

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July 1994
Volume 5 Issue 1

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

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Spandidos Publications style
LIANG B, NEWTON H, JUNCK L and GREENBERG H: HERPES-ZOSTER AND PROCARBAZINE THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH MALIGNANT GLIOMA. Int J Oncol 5: 97-100, 1994
APA
LIANG, B., NEWTON, H., JUNCK, L., & GREENBERG, H. (1994). HERPES-ZOSTER AND PROCARBAZINE THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH MALIGNANT GLIOMA. International Journal of Oncology, 5, 97-100. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.5.1.97
MLA
LIANG, B., NEWTON, H., JUNCK, L., GREENBERG, H."HERPES-ZOSTER AND PROCARBAZINE THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH MALIGNANT GLIOMA". International Journal of Oncology 5.1 (1994): 97-100.
Chicago
LIANG, B., NEWTON, H., JUNCK, L., GREENBERG, H."HERPES-ZOSTER AND PROCARBAZINE THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH MALIGNANT GLIOMA". International Journal of Oncology 5, no. 1 (1994): 97-100. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.5.1.97