Erythropoietin: anemia treatment and life quality in multiple myeloma and chronic myeloid leukemia patients.

An aim of the study was working out of a protocol of anemia in multiple myeloma (MM) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients treatment and evaluation of its effectiveness by clinical and laboratory indices, as well as by patient life quality. MM patients (117 cases) and CML patients (10 cases) in blast crisis and acceleration phases were treated with recombinant erythropoietin (rEPO) Epocrine, 2000 Ul daily within 4 weeks with subsequent dose rise up to 10 000 Ul 3 times weekly within 4 weeks. Evaluation of life quality by international FACT query and linear analog scale LAST has been carried out before treatment, and thereafter weekly during rEPO therapy. It has been revealed that decrement of life quality in MM patients was seen at hemoglobin level lower than 90 g/l, and in CIVIL patients was seen at hemoglobin level lower than 80 g/l. In MM patients treatment to be started at hemoglobin level lower than 90 g/l, and in CML patients at hemoglobin level lower than 80 g/l. The treatment is the most effective at a dose of 10 000 Ul 3 times weekly. rEPO treatment of CIVIL patients in blast crisis is hopeless. Additional doses of iron preparations are not advisable in absence of decrement of iron stocks.