Infectious complications in patients with multiple myeloma on first chemotherapy cycle

The aim of the study was to evaluate the profile and risk factors for acquisition of infections in patients with de novo multiple myeloma (MM) on the 1st chemotherapy cycle (CC).

Materials and methods. Study included patients with de novo MM undergoing chemotherapy from January 2013 till November 2017 in National Research Center for Hematology, Russia.

Results. A total of 156 patients with de novo MM (median age 61 years) were included in the study. Follow-up period was 21–82 days (median 26 days), first CC contained bоrtezomib. Infections occurred in 77 (49.4 %) of patients with MM, from them 29 (37.7 %) – on admission, 48 (62.3 %) – throughout treatment. Solitary infections were in 47 (61%) of patients, multiple infections – in 30 (39 %) of patients. The most prevalent type of infection was pneumonia (62.3 %), followed by urinary tract infections (27.3 %) and herpesvirus infections (24.7 %). 30% of patients with infections were afebrile. Significant risk factors associated with infections at admission and during CC were ECOG score 4, anemia, hypercalcemia, humoral immunodeficiency, admission from other hospital, use of antibiotics prior to first CC. Additional risk factors for infections at admission were Durie–Salmon stage III MM, paresis, lower extremity paraplegia and dysfunction of the pelvic organs, whereas during treatment – ISS stage III MM and renal failure. Infections were uncommon in patients with ISS stage I MM (7.8 %). Mortality after 1st CC was 1.9 % caused by pneumonia and acute respiratory failure.

Conclusions. Patients with de novo MM undergoing 1st CC had high incidence of infections with a prevalence of pneumonia. Factors associated with infections were stage III MM, serious illness, admission from other hospital, humoral immunodeficiency, and renal failure.

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