Diarrhea in Multiple Myeloma: A Review of the Literature

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Gastroenterology
• Hematology

Background:

• Diarrhea is a frequent and inadequately managed symptom in multiple myeloma (MM) patients undergoing cancer treatment.
• Chemotherapy-induced diarrhea can be severe, leading to treatment dose reduction, delays, or discontinuation, potentially risking disease progression.
• Existing interventions like dose reduction often fail to fully resolve diarrhea, negatively impacting patient adherence and quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the causes of diarrhea in cancer patients, with a specific focus on multiple myeloma.
• To discuss current and potential management strategies for diarrhea in MM patients.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted using CINAHL, MEDLINE, and PubMed.
• Search terms included: diarrhea, chemotherapy, multiple myeloma, and cancer.
• Included studies, guidelines, and peer-reviewed publications were reviewed.

Main Results:

• General guidelines for chemotherapy-induced diarrhea exist but lack specificity for MM patients.
• Best practices for identifying and managing diarrhea specifically in multiple myeloma patients are currently lacking.
• Current management often involves dose reduction or drug discontinuation, which may not fully resolve symptoms.

Conclusions:

• There is a critical need for evidence-based guidelines for managing diarrhea in multiple myeloma patients.
• Improved diarrhea management strategies are essential to enhance patient adherence and quality of life.
• Further research is required to establish best practices for this challenging symptom in MM care.