title: Treatment of patients with multiple myeloma complicated by renal failure with bortezomib-based regimens.
abstract: Renal failure is a common feature of multiple myeloma and a major management problem. However there is limited data regarding the reversibility of renal failure, the kinetics of serum creatinine and the safety of novel agents such as bortezomib when administered to newly diagnosed or relapsed/refractory patients with renal failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 20 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed or relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma and renal failure, defined as a serum creatinine >or= 2 mg/dl. All patients received bortezomib with dexamethasone or in combination with other agents (thalidomide, doxorubicin or melphalan).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reversal of renal failure was documented in 40% of all patients and the median time to reversal was 17 days. Moreover 10 patients (50%) had 50% decrease in serum creatinine and the median time to decrease was 35 days. Some decrease of creatinine was documented in 85% of patients. The objective response rate was 65%. Toxicities were similar to those seen in myeloma patients without renal failure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bortezomib based regimens can be administered to myeloma patients with renal impairment and their toxicity and efficacy are similar to those observed in patients without renal impairment. Moreover, bortezomib-based regimens induce improvement of serum creatinine in most patients and reversal of renal failure in approximately one-third.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Therapeutics, University of Athens School of Medicine, Alexandra Hospital, Sophias, Greece.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roussou
authors.forename: Efstathios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kastritis
authors.forename: Magdalini
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Migkou
authors.forename: Erasmia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Psimenou
authors.forename: Irini
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Grapsa
authors.forename: Charis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Matsouka
authors.forename: Despina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barmparousi
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Terpos
authors.forename: Meletios Athanasios
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dimopoulos
mesh_terms: D001897:Boronic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D000069286:Bortezomib; D006801:Humans; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001897:Boronic Acids; D011719:Pyrazines; D000069286:Bortezomib