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Published in: Journal of Medical Case Reports 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Case report

Roxithromycin monotherapy inducing a partial response in a patient with myeloma: a case report

Authors: Kern Y. Chai, Anna L. Byrne, Ian M. Morison

Published in: Journal of Medical Case Reports | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Clarithromycin is an efficacious treatment for myeloma in combination with other anti-myeloma therapy but not as monotherapy. To date, all studies have focused on a clarithromycin-specific effect rather than a class effect (macrolide) and there is no information on the activity of roxithromycin in myeloma.

Case presentation

Here we report an untreated 86-year-old New Zealand European white man with IgA myeloma whose paraprotein decreased by 57%, consistent with a partial response, after a course of roxithromycin for pneumonia. His paraprotein reduced from 46 to 20 g/L while his hemoglobin improved from 97 to 123 g/L after 1 month.

Conclusion

Additional investigations should be considered to elucidate the therapeutic effect of roxithromycin in myeloma.
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Metadata
Title
Roxithromycin monotherapy inducing a partial response in a patient with myeloma: a case report
Authors
Kern Y. Chai
Anna L. Byrne
Ian M. Morison
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Medical Case Reports / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1752-1947
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13256-018-1636-9

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