title: Plasmapheresis in myeloma cast nephropathy.
abstract: Renal failure in multiple myeloma is frequent, and portends a dismal prognosis. Precipitation of free light chains in tubules contributes to development of cast nephropathy and renal failure. Treatment with plasmapheresis is reported as an adjunct to chemotherapy in these patients, but evidence regarding its efficacy in the literature is conflicting. In this article, we report the case of a 63-year-old man who presented with severe acute renal failure due to myeloma cast nephropathy and whose kidney function improved significantly following treatment with dexamethasone and a course of 8 plasma exchanges. We then provide a review of the technical aspects of plasmapheresis, followed by an analysis of the randomized trials that have been published to date on the efficacy of plasmapheresis for myeloma cast nephropathy.
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Department, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chapdelaine
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Madore
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D010956:Plasmapheresis / Q000379:methods*