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Received September 10, 2008
Accepted on January 7, 2009
ORIGINAL ARTICLES |
1,
,
,
,
*Department of Nephrology and
Department of Haematology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham;
Division of Medical Sciences and
Division of Immunity and Infection, Medical School, University of Birmingham; ||Department of Haematology, New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton; ¶The Binding Site Ltd., Birmingham; **School of Engineering, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
1 To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: c.a.hutchison{at}bham.ac.uk.
| Abstract |
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Background and objectives: Extended hemodialysis using a high cut-off dialyzer (HCO-HD) removes large quantities of free light chains in patients with multiple myeloma. However, the clinical utility of this method is uncertain. This study assessed the combination of chemotherapy and HCO-HD on serum free light chain concentrations and renal recovery in patients with myeloma kidney (cast nephropathy) and dialysis-dependent acute renal failure.
Design, setting, participants, & measurements: An open-label study of the relationship between free light chain levels and clinical outcomes in 19 patients treated with standard chemotherapy regimens and HCO-HD.
Results: There were sustained early reductions in serum free light chain concentrations (median 85% [range 50 to 97]) in 13 patients. These 13 patients became dialysis independent at a median of 27 d (range 13 to 120). Six patients had chemotherapy interrupted because of early infections and did not achieve sustained early free light chain reductions; one of these patients recovered renal function (at 105 d) the remaining 5 patients did not recover renal function. Patients who recovered renal function had a significantly improved survival (P < 0.012).
Conclusion: In dialysis-dependent acute renal failure secondary to myeloma kidney, patients who received uninterrupted chemotherapy and extended HCO-HD had sustained reductions in serum free light chain concentrations and recovered independent renal function.
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