title: Dialysis in the treatment of multiple myeloma.
abstract: Twenty patients with multiple myeloma and renal failure were treated by dialysis and chemotherapy consisting of prednisone and melphalan. Of nine patients treated by short-term dialysis, only two recovered renal function despite correction of fluid and electrolyte disorders, hypercalcemia, and hyperuricemia. The remaining seven patients died within 2 months in a uremic state, and one of the patients who recovered renal function died 14 months later of bronchopneumonia. In contrast, long-term hemodialysis and chemotherapy in 11 patients resulted in sufficient improvement in 8 patients to permit a degree of rehabilitation comparable to that achieved in patients with primary renal disease who have progression of the multiple myeloma. Of the 20 patients, 6 survive 7 to 48 months after beginning treatment.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D009194:Myeloma Proteins / Q000652:urine; D006435:Renal Dialysis
chemical_list: D009194:Myeloma Proteins