Cytomegalovirus Hemorrhagic Cystitis in a Malignant Glioma Patient Treated with Temozolomide

Abstract

Temozolomide, a key drug in the treatment of malignant glioma, can cause profound lymphopenia and various opportunistic infectious diseases. A 79-year-old woman with anaplastic oligodendroglioma developed a fever and gross hematuria after 8 weeks of standard radiotherapy with concomitant temozolomide treatment. A cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigen test for pp65 antigenemia was positive (137 cells per 75,800 leukocytes), and the findings from a urine cytology test were consistent with CMV-induced hemorrhagic cystitis. She was treated with ganciclovir, and her condition improved. CMV monitoring is needed when patients develop symptoms related to opportunistic infections during temozolomide treatment for malignant glioma.