People who have had chickenpox have been infected with the varicella-zoster virus. After the infection, the virus remains quietly present in nerve cells in the body and can be reactivated, causing shingles.
People with multiple myeloma, a blood cell cancer, may be treated with an anti-cancer drug called Velcade (bortezomib). This may make them more likely to have outbreaks of shingles.
Researchers at the Northwestern University of Chicago reviewed the records of 125 people with multiple myeloma taking bortezomib. These people received either Zovirax (acyclovir), Valtrex (valacyclovir), or Famvir (famciclovir), all antiviral drugs which were taken to try to prevent shingles outbreaks. The researchers report that the antiviral treatment was very effective--not a single episode of shingles was reported during the time period reviewed.
- More about multiple myeloma
- Shingles complication: Herpes Zoster Oticus
Vickrey, Eric, Sharon Allen, Jayesh Mehta, & Seema Singhal. "Acyclovir to prevent reactivation of varicella zoster virus (herpes zoster) in multiple myeloma patients receiving bortezomib therapy." Cancer 115(2009): 229 - 232.
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