Abstract
Objective
To evaluate (1) the disease course, (2) the response to recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO), and (3) the morbidity and mortality of patients with endstage renal disease (ESRO) due to multiple myeloma (MM) who were treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPO).
Design
Retrospective study.
Setting
Tertiary teaching hospital -The Toronto Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Patients
Seven patients with ESRO due to MM who were treated with CAPO.
Results
Mean age of the patients was 77.2 years (median 80 years, range 65 88 years). Two were in stage IB, 1 was in stage lIB, and the remaining 4 were in stage IIIB, according to Ourie and Salmon's staging. Three patients received rHuEPO; 2 of these also were receiving chemotherapy for myeloma. The mean rHuEPO requirement was 277 U/kglwk, which was more than other ESRO patients’ requirements. Mean duration of CAPO was 20.6 months (6 –58 months). The peritonitis rate was one episode in 14.4 months. The frequency of hospitalization was once in 5.6 months, and the mean number of days spent in hospital was 20 days per year. Quality of life did not get worse and, if anything, improved marginally while they were on CAPO. Three patients died after a mean survival of 32.7 months, and the remaining 4 patients are still alive.
Conclusions
Myeloma patients with ESRO do fairly well on CAPO without deterioration in their quality of life and with an acceptable peritonitis rate.
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