Pharmacokinetics of oral melphalan in relation to renal function in multiple myeloma patients

The impact of renal function on oral melphalan pharmacokinetics was studied in 15 patients with multiple myeloma. A two-fold interindividual variation in the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) was found. An increase in AUC and melphalan mean residence time (MRT) was noted in patients with renal dysfunction. No correlation was found between GFR and the terminal plasma half-life time. We conclude from these results that renal dysfunction is associated with an increase in AUC and MRT of oral melphalan. A careful follow-up of hematological toxicity and possibly a dose reduction of melphalan are proposed for myeloma patients with renal impairment.