Cytomegalovirus Retinitis in a Patient Who Received Ruxolitinib

The Janus kinase 2 inhibitor ruxolitinib can produce defects in host defenses that may lead to opportunistic infections such as cytomegalovirus retinitis. To the Editor: A 67-year-old man received a diagnosis of primary myelofibrosis with extramedullary hematopoiesis and splenomegaly in 2009. In Dec...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe New England journal of medicine Vol. 374; no. 3; pp. 296 - 297
Main Authors von Hofsten, Joanna, Johnsson Forsberg, Marianne, Zetterberg, Madeleine
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Massachusetts Medical Society 21.01.2016
Subjects
Aged
Cytomegalovirus
Cytomegalovirus - isolation & purification
Cytomegalovirus Retinitis - chemically induced
Humans
Infections
Janus kinase
Janus kinase 2
Janus Kinases - antagonists & inhibitors
Male
Opportunistic Infections - chemically induced
Patients
Primary Myelofibrosis - drug therapy
Protein Kinase Inhibitors - adverse effects
Pyrazoles - adverse effects
Retinitis
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Summary:The Janus kinase 2 inhibitor ruxolitinib can produce defects in host defenses that may lead to opportunistic infections such as cytomegalovirus retinitis. To the Editor: A 67-year-old man received a diagnosis of primary myelofibrosis with extramedullary hematopoiesis and splenomegaly in 2009. In December 2013, treatment with ruxolitinib (Jakafi) was initiated at a dose of 15 mg twice daily. There was a palpable reduction in spleen size. In June 2014, the patient presented to his ophthalmologist with unilateral anterior uveitis. Treatment was initiated with mydriatic eyedrops and a low-dose regimen of topical glucocorticoids. During follow-up, no response to this therapy was noted, and signs of posterior involvement had developed. The patient was referred to our clinic, where a slight vitritis and a few . . .
ISSN:0028-4793
1533-4406
DOI:10.1056/NEJMc1413918