Herpes zoster infection associated with poor peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell mobilization

The efficacy of peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell (PBSC) harvest is important for successful autologous transplantation. The impact of viral infection on PBSC mobilization has rarely been reported. Here, we report a patient with relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who experienced disseminated cutaneous herpes zoster infection during the neutropenic phase of PBSC mobilization. A markedly reduced number of PBSCs was initially harvested (1.72 x 10(6)/kg, 77.2% reduction), followed by a sufficient number (7.55 x 10(6)/kg) during remobilization with the same mobilization regimen when herpes zoster infection had subsided. Because of the temporal association, we suggest that herpes zoster infection is a risk factor for poor PBSC mobilization, and remobilization with the same regimen is feasible.