Bortezomib and bilateral herpes zoster.

Bortezomib is a proteasome inhibitor that has proven to be a very effective treatment for multiple myeloma. There is considerable debate about the potential for reactivation of the varicella zoster virus (VZV) in patients with multiple myeloma during treatment with bortezomib. This report describes the case of a 70-year-old patient with multiple myeloma that developed bilateral herpes zoster shortly after being treated with bortezomib. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of using an antiviral prophylaxis with acyclovir in these patients treated with bortezomib.