title: Therapy of anemia in patients with multiple myeloma.
abstract: Multiple myeloma is very frequently associated with anemia which has the character of hypoproliferative anemia of chronic diseases. In this type of anemia there is often insufficient production of endogenous erythropoietin. According to literature pharmacological doses of erythropoietin result in the increase of blood hemoglobin concentration. Erythropoietin (Eprex Cilag) was given to 11 patients whose hemoglobin concentration in blood was lower than 100 g/l. 10 patients could be evaluated at the end of the study. Within the first month all patients were given erythropoietin in the dose of 150 U/kg 3 times a week. The dose was doubled, when the blood hemoglobin concentration did not increase by more than 10 g/l within the first month. In patients with hemoglobin level above 120 g/l we were trying to find the individual maintenance dose. In patients who had not reached a blood hemoglobin concentration increase of at least 20 g/l, as compared with the initial level, further erythropoietin administration was stopped. The concentration of hemoglobin increased of 20 g/l in 8 (80%) out of 10 patients evaluated. All 5 patients who responded within the first month, had had pretreatment concentration of endogenous erythropoietin below 60 U/l. Three other patients had not been responding before their dose of erythropoietin was increased in the 2nd and 3rd months of therapy. The therapy response appeared only in the 2nd and the 3rd months of treatment. These 3 patients had higher pretreatment concentrations of endogenous erythropoietin, from 100 to 350 U/l. During the treatment no adverse effects of erythropoietin were observed. Erythropoietin is a useful drug for anemic patients with the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. According to the results mentioned above and also according to the data from literature it is evident that in patients with the endogenous blood erythropoietin value below 100 U/l it is possible to expect a sudden rise in hemoglobin concentration already within the first month. Patients with a higher concentration of endogenous erythropoietin (100 to 500 U/l) respond to the therapy less frequently and for the increase in hemoglobin it is necessary to give higher doses of erythropoietin. Patients with the initial value of erythropoietin above 500 U/l are not likely to respond.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krahulová
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spelda
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vorlícek
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hejlová
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hájek
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomíska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006452:Hemoglobinometry; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D004921:Erythropoietin