Scientific Letters
Vol. 18 No. 1 (2026): Mediterranean Journal of Hematology and Infectious Diseases
https://doi.org/10.4084/MJHID.2026.044

Preventive Strategies and Infectious Outcomes in Ruxolitinib-Treated Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Published: April 30, 2026
0
Views
0
Downloads
0
HTML
Ruxolitinib, herpes simplex, herpes zoster, latent tuberculosis, screening, prophylaxis

Authors

Muruvvet Seda Aydin
drmseda84@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7991-5275
Department of Hematology, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Türkiye.
Gulten Korkmaz
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4467-9724
Department of Hematology, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Türkiye.
Merve Pamukcuoglu
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4591-2025
Department of Hematology, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Türkiye.
Hatice Rahmet Guner
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1029-1185
Department of Infectious Diseases, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Türkiye.
Funda Ceran
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3173-7614
Department of Hematology, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Türkiye.
Simten Dagdas
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0901-2043
Department of Hematology, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Türkiye.
Gulsum Ozet
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2658-5978
Department of Hematology, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Türkiye.

Background:

Ruxolitinib has been associated with an increased risk of viral infections and tuberculosis reactivation in patients with Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative neoplasm. However, data regarding screening practices and prophylactic approaches in routine clinical care remain limited.

Objective:

To describe latent tuberculosis screening, antiviral prophylaxis practices, and infectious outcomes in ruxolitinib-treated patients with myeloproliferative neoplasm at a single center.

Methods:

Thirty patients with Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative neoplasm treated with ruxolitinib were included in this retrospective single-center study.

Results:

The median duration of ruxolitinib therapy was 20.1 months. Latent tuberculosis screening was performed in nearly all patients, and isoniazid prophylaxis was administered to five individuals according to screening results. No tuberculosis reactivation occurred during follow-up. Antiviral prophylaxis was administered to 56.6% of patients. One patient developed herpes zoster during treatment, and two experienced recurrent oral herpes. Exploratory analyses did not identify statistically significant clinical factors associated with recurrent oral herpes or antiviral prophylaxis initiation.

Conclusion:

This study provides a descriptive real-world account of infectious outcomes and institutional screening and management practices in ruxolitinib-treated patients with Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative neoplasm. Larger prospective studies are required to further clarify optimal screening and prophylactic strategies.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Citations

Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC
1. Butler, L.A., C. Forsyth, C. Harrison, and A.C. Perkins, Real World Management of Cytopenias and Infections in Patients With Myelofibrosis Treated With Ruxolitinib. EJHaem, 2025. 6(2): p. e70007.
2. Chen, C.Y. and T.C. Chen, Ruxolitinib associated psoas muscle tuberculosis abscess in a primary myelofibrosis woman: A case report and literature review. Medicine (Baltimore), 2024. 103(14): p. e37653.
3. Luo, Q., Z. Xiao, and L. Peng, Effects of ruxolitinib on infection in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasm: a meta-analysis. Hematology, 2021. 26(1): p. 663–669.
4. Lussana, F., M. Cattaneo, A. Rambaldi, and A. Squizzato, Ruxolitinib-associated infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Hematol, 2018. 93(3): p. 339–347.
5. Hirai, N., K. Kasahara, S. Yoshihara, T. Nishimura, K. Omori, Y. Ogawa, T. Ogawa, N. Hishiya, Y. Suzuki, H. Yano, M. Yoshikawa, and K. Mikasa, Necessity to screen and treat latent tuberculosis before ruxolitinib treatment-Ruxolitinib-associated disseminated tuberculosis: A case report and literature review. IDCases, 2020. 21: p. e00892.
6. Khalid, F., M. Damlaj, M. AlZahrani, K.A. Abuelgasim, and G.E. Gmati, Reactivation of tuberculosis following ruxolitinib therapy for primary myelofibrosis: Case series and literature review. Hematol Oncol Stem Cell Ther, 2021. 14(3): p. 252–256.
7. Peng, Y., L. Meng, X. Hu, Z. Han, and Z. Hong, Tuberculosis in Patients with Primary Myelofibrosis During Ruxolitinib Therapy: Case Series and Literature Review. Infect Drug Resist, 2020. 13: p. 3309–3316.
8. Manduzio, P., Ruxolitinib in myelofibrosis: to be or not to be an immune disruptor. Ther Clin Risk Manag, 2017. 13: p. 169–177.
9. Duarte, R., S. Campainha, J. Cotter, B. Rosa, P. Varela, A. Correia, H. Canhão, and J.E. Fonseca, Position paper on tuberculosis screening in patients with immune mediated inflammatory diseases who are candidates for biological therapy. GE Jornal Português de Gastrenterologia, 2012. 19(6): p. 290–299.
10. Blanco-Sánchez, A., R. Ayala, G. Carreño-Tarragona, R. Colmenares, N. López-Muñoz, A. Sáez, M.L. Palacios-Berraquero, J. Hernández, and J. Martínez-López, Long-Term Safety Profile of Ruxolitinib in Chronic Myeloproliferative Neoplasms: A Comprehensive Real-World Analysis. EJHaem, 2025. 6(6): p. e70152.
11. Coltro, G., E. Sant'Antonio, G.A. Palumbo, F. Mannelli, V. De Stefano, M. Ruggeri, E.M. Elli, R. Zanotti, O. Borsani, I. Bertozzi, A. Duminuco, S. Betti, G. Carli, F. Cavalca, I. Tanasi, E. Rumi, M.L. Randi, B. Garibaldi, G.G. Loscocco, P. Guglielmelli, and A.M. Vannucchi, Assessment of the efficacy and tolerability of ruxolitinib for the treatment of myelofibrosis patients in a real-life setting: An Italian MYNERVA Project. Cancer Med, 2023. 12(7): p. 8166–8171.
12. Te Linde, E., L.J.E. Boots, L.G.M. Daenen, M.A. de Witte, and A.H.W. Bruns, High Incidence of Herpes Zoster in Patients Using Ruxolitinib for Myeloproliferative Neoplasms: Need for Prophylaxis. Hemasphere, 2022. 6(11): p. e793.
13. Sadjadian, P., K. Wille, and M. Griesshammer, Ruxolitinib-Associated Infections in Polycythemia Vera: Review of the Literature, Clinical Significance, and Recommendations. Cancers (Basel), 2020. 12(11).
14. Astibia-Mahillo, B., V. Leguizamon, E. Mateos, M. Torres, N. Armenteros, M.C. Luengo-Martínez, A. Fernández-Chávez, N. Daza, M. Piris-Villaespesa, J. Lopez Jimenez, M. Coiras, and V. García Gutiérrez, The recombinant adjuvant zoster vaccine induces similar immune responses in ruxolitinib-treated patients with myelofibrosis and polycythemia vera. Blood, 2025. 146: p. 7273.

Ethics Approval

Ruxolitinib, herpes simplex, herpes zoster, latent tuberculosis, screening, prophylaxis

Supporting Agencies

None

How to Cite



“Preventive Strategies and Infectious Outcomes in Ruxolitinib-Treated Myeloproliferative Neoplasms” (2026) Mediterranean Journal of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, 18(1). doi:10.4084/MJHID.2026.044.
Copyright (c) 2026 Muruvvet Seda Aydin, Gulten Korkmaz, Merve Pamukcuoglu, Hatice Rahmet Guner, Funda Ceran, Simten Dagdas, Gulsum Ozet Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.