Autoimmune diseases during treatment with immunomodulatory drugs in multiple myeloma: selective occurrence after lenalidomide. Issue 9 (September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Montefusco, Vittorio; Galli, Monica; Spina, Francesco; Stefanoni, Paola; Mussetti, Alberto; Perrone, Giulia; De Philippis, Chiara; Dalto, Serena; Maura, Francesco; Bonini, Chiara; Rezzonico, Francesca; Pennisi, Martina; Roncari, Luisa; Soldarini, Martina; Dodero, Anna; Farina, Lucia; Cocito, Federica; Caprioli, Chiara; Corradini, Paolo
• Is Part Of: Leukemia & lymphoma. Volume 55:Issue 9(2014:Sep.)
• Page Start: 2032
• Page End: 2037
• Publication Date: 2014-09
• Subjects: Leukemia -- Periodicals; Lymphomas -- Periodicals; 616.99419
• DOI: 10.3109/10428194.2014.914203
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1042-8194

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) may favor autoimmune disease (AD) occurrence. We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate AD occurrence among IMiD-treated patients with myeloma. Patients were grouped into three classes depending on the type of IMiD engaged. The first group included patients treated with thalidomide (Thal) (<italic>n</italic> = 474), the second group with lenalidomide (Len) (<italic>n</italic> = 140) and patients in the third group were first treated with Thal followed by Len (Thal-Len) (<italic>n</italic> = 94). Absolute risk of AD was 0.4% for patients treated with Thal, 4.3% for Len and 1.1% for Thal-Len. ADs manifested prevalently as autoimmune cytopenias (55%), although we observed one vasculitis, one optic neuritis, one Graves' disease and one polymyositis. ADs occurred preferentially in the first months of IMiD treatment. A previous autologous transplant was shown to be a significant risk factor. All ADs were managed with IMiD discontinuation and steroids, resolving in a few weeks, except for Graves' disease and polymyositis.</p> </abstract>