Plerixafor dosing and administration in a patient with dialysis-dependent renal failure

To report on the use of plerixafor in a patient with multiple myeloma and dialysis-dependent renal failure.

A 38-year-old man with multiple myeloma and dialysis-dependent renal failure was evaluated for stem cell transplantation. Stem cell mobilization with 6 doses of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) 10 μg/kg/day yielded an inadequate maximum pre-apheresis CD34+ count of 5.6 cells/μL. The patient was treated with a postdialysis subcutaneous dose of plerixafor 160 μg/kg after 4 days of G-CSF therapy. After a single dose of plerixafor, the patient's pre-apheresis CD34+ count was 125.6 cells/μL. After 1 apheresis session, the stem cell collection yield was 5.33 x 10⁶ CD34+ cells/kg. There were no observed plerixafor toxicities. The patient underwent successful autologous stem cell transplantation. Times to neutrophil and platelet engraftment were 12 and 15 days, respectively. At 100-day follow-up, the patient's myeloma was in remission and he met all criteria for durable engraftment.

Renal impairment is a common comorbidity in patients with multiple myeloma. Plerixafor is a chemokine receptor 4 antagonist approved for use to mobilize stem cells for collection and subsequent autologous transplantation in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma. To date, there is limited information on safe and effective dosing and administration of plerixafor in patients who are dialysis-dependent. This report describes the use of plerixafor in a patient with multiple myeloma and dialysis-dependent renal failure.

Based on our experience, we are instituting a policy to administer plerixafor at Food and Drug Administration-approved renal adjustment doses in patients on hemodialysis, with dialysis sessions scheduled prior to plerixafor administration and repeated as necessary after apheresis and prior to subsequent plerixafor doses. If clinically feasible, dialysis should be held during the days required to collect stem cells.