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“long-term” Survival In Light-chain Myeloma With Dialysis Therapy Alone

Boyce et al., 1984Multiple myeloma

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Medicine 14(5): Oct 1984; 676-677

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Case Details

Personal Characteristics

59-year-old woman

Clinical Characteristics

Presented in end-stage renal failure with stage iii b lambda light-chain myeloma (llcm), large tumour burden

Remission Characteristics

Considerable hematological improvement

Treatment & Mechanisms

Proposed Remission Mechanisms

Not discussed

Clinical Treatment

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (capd)

Additional Notes

Despite a large tumour burden and refusal to accept cytotoxic chemotherapy, she was started on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). With dialysis therapy alone she has shown considerable hematological improvement and remains well 18 months after diagnosis. The extremely poor prognosis attributed to light-chain myeloma is largely due to death from uremia. As the natural history of this disease in patients offered dialysis therapy is unknown, dialysis should not automatically be withheld from patients with LLCM.