Renal transplantation in a patient with multiple myeloma and light chain nephropathy

A case of multiple myeloma in a 41-year-old white man that resulted in chronic renal failure is discussed. During the period of hemodialysis treatment, remission of the patient's myeloma was induced by chemotherapy. Thereafter a transplanted cadaver kidney functioned well for 3.5 years despite episodes of sepsis, administration of nephrotoxic chemotherapeutic agents, and recurrence of the myeloma with intermittent excretion of Bence Jones protein in the urine. The results of this fully documented case, as well as two other cases we have previously reported, support the strategy of offering cadaver renal transplantation to carefully selected individuals who require long-term dialysis and whose myeloma is in remission after chemotherapy.