Continuous lenalidomide treatment after bortezomib-melphalan-prednisolone therapy for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma

Evidence-based recommendations for induction and maintenance treatment of newly diagnosed transplant-ineligible multiple myeloma patients

There is increasing evidence regarding the role of various maintenance therapy (MT) strategies after initial induction to treat newly diagnosed transplant-ineligible patients with MM. We reviewed the literature on available regimens for patients with transplant-ineligible newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM). Lenalidomide (R)-based regimens are still the front-line therapy, but there is an increasing use of bortezomib-based regimens. The MT regimen is mainly based on the initial induction regimen. MT has shown survival benefits compared with patients without maintenance therapy. The most common adverse effects of MT include anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, infections, and peripheral neuropathy. In conclusion, induction followed by maintenance based on lenalidomide, bortezomib, ixazomib, or daratumumab-based regimens has shown promising results. Therefore, it is essential to conduct more clinical trials to better understand the role of MT in the treatment of NDMM patients who are not candidates for autologous stem cell transplantation.

Lenalidomide-induced arthritis: A case report and review of literature and pharmacovigilance databases

INTRODUCTION

Lenalidomide is an immunomodulatory agent with multiple mechanisms of action, and treatment with lenalidomide is associated with adverse events such as thrombosis and abdominal pain; nonetheless, other rarer adverse events do exist, with few knowledge from physicians and pharmacists. For such adverse events, pharmacovigilance databases are of great interest.

CASE REPORT

A 71-year-old patient with no rheumatologic history, in complete remission of a mantle-cell lymphoma following rituximab, doxorubicin, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and prednisone induction, received a maintenance treatment with rituximab and lenalidomide. After each course of lenalidomide and with no other new medication, the patient presented with fever and high inflammatory markers level, and a scapular-belt arthritis.

MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOME

The patient was managed with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and colchicine, with symptomatology and inflammation improvement. After discontinuation of lenalidomide, he had no arthritis relapse; it was then concluded that the patient had a lenalidomide-induced arthritis. We interrogated the national and international (VigiBase®) pharmacovigilance databases and found that arthritis in the context of lenalidomide exposure is a rare finding, with only three reported cases in France; 0.13% of adverse events reported with lenalidomide in the international database VigiBase® were arthritis.

DISCUSSION

Our case then reports an uncommon finding, of which both pharmacists and physicians should be aware due to the wide and increasing use of lenalidomide.