Renal involvement in multiple myeloma

The present study is a retrospective chart analysis of 33 patients who satisfied the diagnostic criteria of multiple myeloma. Sixteen (49.5%) of these 33 patients developed renal failure at some point in time. The mean age +/- 1SD of patients who developed renal failure was 59.2 +/- 13 years (range 34-85 years). There were 12 males and 4 females. The precipitating factors for renal failure were dehydration (12.5%), hypercalcemia (62.5%) and use of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (6.2%). Hypercalcemia was observed in 10 of the 16 patients who developed renal failure while it was seen in only 4 of the 17 cases who did not develop renal failure (relative risk 5.4). In 11 (68.7%) patients, the renal function improved with hydration, treatment of hypercalcemia and chemotherapy. The 1 and 3 year actuarial survival of patients with renal failure and multiple myeloma was 87% and 74% respectively.