SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF RECOMBINANT-HUMAN-ERYTHROPOIETIN TREATMENT OF ANEMIA ASSOCIATED WITH MULTIPLE-MYELOMA IN HEMODIALYZED PATIENTS

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) was used to treat the anaemia of four haemodialysed patients (3 males, 1 female) with advanced multiple myeloma; the type of serum M component was IgG kappa in all cases. During the 6-month period preceding rHuEpo therapy the patients received multiple blood transfusions (range 4-22 units of packed red cells per patient). After the first month of treatment haematocrit increased from 23 +/- 3 (SD) to 32 +/- 4% and during the last 3 months the maintenance dose of rHuEpo was 143 +/- 37 U/kg per week to achieve a mean haematocrit of 35 +/- 1%. After introduction of rHuEpo, blood transfusions were no longer required and the patients reported an improvement in wellbeing. No apparent worsening of multiple myeloma has been observed over the treatment period ranging from 5 to 34 months (cumulative duration of treatment 55 months). Anti-hypertensive therapy was started in one case and increased in two patients. We conclude that rHuEpo appears to be effective and safe in treating anaemia associated with multiple myeloma in patients requiring haemodialysis.