Abstract

ALARCON, Martha Liliana et al. Association between herpes zoster and relapse or progression of solid neoplasms. Acta Med Colomb [online]. 2014, vol.39, n.1, pp.35-39. ISSN 0120-2448.

Abstract Objective: to determine the association between the presence of herpes zoster and subsequent relapse or progression in patients with solid tumors Study design: retrospective cohort study in adults with malignant solid tumors, treated at two oncology centers in Bucaramanga between February 2005 and November 2011. A database in EpiInfo 6.04d was created and the information was analyzed in the Stata 11 program. Place of study: two Oncologyc Centers of Bucaramanga. Patients: adults with histopathological diagnosis of malignant solid tumor. Measurements: progression -free and relapse times were determined according to the type of response and exposure. Risks given by sociodemographic and clinical variables were estimated. The incidence of herpes zoster was calculated. Results: 444 patients were included in the partial response group and 824 in the complete response group. There was no association between the presence of herpes zoster and the 2 outcomes of interest: HR for progression of 0.94 (95% CI 0.61 to 1.44), relapse of 0.85 (95% CI 0.46 to 1.55). The mean of the time free of relapse was lower in individuals who had herpes zoster: 57.1 months versus 87.4 months. The cumulative incidence of herpes zoster was 6.02%. Conclusion: the presence of herpes zoster in patients with malignant solid tumors did not accelerate relapse or progression of neoplasia. A tendency to relapse was observed in the group of patients in complete response that had herpes zoster. The incidence of herpes zoster infection in patients with solid tumors is higher than that reported in other studies. (Acta Med Colomb 2014; 39: 35-39).

Keywords : neoplasia; herpes zoster; progression; recurrence.

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