Infection risk with immunomodulatory and proteasome inhibitor–based therapies across treatment phases for multiple myeloma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background The objective of this review was to determine the impact of immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) and proteasome inhibitor (PI)–based therapy on infection risk in patients with myeloma across three treatment periods: induction, maintenance therapy and relapse/refractory disease (RRMM). Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCT) of IMiD and PI-based therapy versus conventional therapy from 1990 to 2015 using MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL was conducted. Study methods, characteristics, interventions, outcomes and rate of infection were extracted using a standardised tool. Findings Thirty RCTs of 13,105 patients fulfilled inclusion criteria. The rate of..