A retrospective analysis of ten symptomatic multiple myeloma patients with HIV infection: A potential therapeutic effect of HAART in multiple myeloma

The impact of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) in multiple myeloma (MM) is unknown. Ten HIV+ and 28 HIV-negative patients were retrospectively identified out of 262 cases of MM diagnosed at Kings County Hospital Center since the introduction of HAART in 1996. The HIV+ MM patients on HAART had superior overall survival (OS) (Fisher exact, p = 0.008; log-rank, p = 0.012) and progression free survival (PFS) (Fisher exact, p = 0.007; log-rank, p = 0.009) than the HIV-negative MM patients. HAART alone blocked the production of serum M-protein. We propose that HARRT should be explored for the treatment of both HIV+ and HIV-negative MM patients.