Infectious complications in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma: A complication from the past?

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Oncology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Infectious complications are a major risk factor for early mortality in multiple myeloma patients.
• The impact of novel therapies on infection rates and severity in multiple myeloma requires updated analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the incidence, severity, and mortality of infectious complications in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients receiving novel drug regimens within randomized trials.
• To analyze infection-related morbidity and mortality during induction treatment in the era of new multiple myeloma therapies.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of randomized trials involving newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients treated with novel drug regimens.
• Analysis of data on infectious complications, including incidence, severity, and infection-related mortality.

Main Results:

• Infections are a significant cause of morbidity, affecting up to 28% of elderly patients on immunomodulatory drugs, compared to less than 10% in transplant-eligible patients.
• Infection-related mortality ranged from 0-7% in transplant-ineligible patients.
• No infection-related deaths were reported in the majority of trials involving younger patients.

Conclusions:

• Infectious complications continue to pose a substantial threat to multiple myeloma patients, especially the elderly receiving immunomodulatory drugs.
• Further strategies are needed to reduce infection-related morbidity and mortality.
• Understanding the impact of infections in patients treated outside clinical trials is crucial.