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Recombinant human erythropoietin in a patient with multiple myeloma and end-stage renal disease
J L Holley1, T A Nolan, B Piraino
1Renal-Electrolyte Division, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) is an established, effective treatment for the anemia of chronic renal failure. Recent reports also suggest it may be efficacious in the anemias of drug toxicity, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple myeloma without renal failure. We describe the positive response to rHuEpo in an end-stage renal disease patient with active multiple myeloma and ongoing chemotherapy. Before rHuEpo therapy, the patient was transfusion dependent, but after rHuEpo was initiated, transfusions were not required. Multiple myeloma with renal failure does not preclude a response to rHuEpo. Further trials of rHuEpo in the treatment of multiple myeloma with and without renal failure are warranted.
Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) is an established, effective treatment for the anemia of chronic renal failure. Recent reports also suggest it may be efficacious in the anemias of drug toxicity, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple myeloma without renal failure. We describe the positive response to rHuEpo in an end-stage renal disease patient with active multiple myeloma and ongoing chemotherapy. Before rHuEpo therapy, the patient was transfusion dependent, but after rHuEpo was initiated, transfusions were not required. Multiple myeloma with renal failure does not preclude a response to rHuEpo. Further trials of rHuEpo in the treatment of multiple myeloma with and without renal failure are warranted.