Introduction. - Bortezomid is a potent proteasome inhibitor used in patients with relapsing or refractory multiple myeloma and provides a 35% response with a median duration of response of 12 months. Numerous adverse effects are known, mainly comprising haematological, and neurological complications. A wide variety of cutaneous complications have also been described in 10 to 20% of patients.Case Report. - We report a case of bortezomib-induced Sweet syndrome. The diagnostic criteria required for drug-induced Sweet syndrome were present.Discussion. - The importance of this description is that this induced Sweet syndrome may not necessarily require cessation of bortezomid since administration of corticosteroids prevents its recurrence. (C) 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

To decrease red blood cell (RBC) transfusion requirements during high-dose therapy (HDT) for hematological malignancies, we conducted a pilot study to assess the effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) given during chemotherapy before HDT and autologous peripheral stem-cell transplantation (APSCT). The transfusion histories of 15 HDT and APSCT for hematological disease performed in 11 consecutive patients who received rHuEpo (10 000 U subcutaneously three times/week) were compared to those of 22 HDT and ASCT performed in 17 consecutive historical controls matched for hematological parameters. rHuEpo increased the hemoglobin (Hb) level from 10.3+/-2.3 g/dl at diagnosis to 12.9+/-2.2 g/dl at the time of HDT in 11 patients; no major adverse effects occurred. Compared to historical controls (95%, 21/22), RBC transfusion requirements were significantly lower for rHuEpo recipients (26%, 4/15) (P=0.00001) and rHuEpo responders (15%, 2/13) (P=0.000002). After HDT and APSCT, fewer RBC transfusions were needed: 3.3, 1.2 and 0.3 RBC units for controls, rHuEpo recipients and rHuEpo responders, respectively (P=0.006 and 0.00002). Therefore, rHuEpo should be administered before, and not after HDT and APSCT, to lower RBC transfusion requirements after HDT and APSCT.

Premiere observation Monsieur G., aujourd’hui âge de 70 ans, est adresse par son medecin traitant en consultation specialisee suite a la decouverte de perturbations franches de son hemogramme. Une polyglobulie primitive ou maladie de Vaquez a ete diagnostiquee il y a 23ans, suite a l’apparition de signes fonctionnels (cephalees [...]