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Procedure
improves health of Cancer Patients
Newswise — A novel hemodialysis procedure
helps restore kidney function and increases
lifespan in patients with multiple myeloma,
according to a study appearing in the April
2009 issue of the Clinical Journal of the
American Society Nephrology (CJASN).
Multiple myeloma is a form of cancer that
causes severe kidney failure. Once multiple
myeloma patients require dialysis to treat
their kidney failure, most live less than a
year.
Unfortunately, there are no effective
treatments to help these cancer patients.
However, researchers have suspected that a
procedure called high cut-off hemodialysis,
which removes large immunological proteins
that cause kidney damage in myeloma
patients, might improve patients’ health and
allow them to live longer (when used in
combination with chemotherapy).
To test high cut-off hemodialysis’
potential, Colin Hutchison, MD (University
Hospital Birmingham, United Kingdom), and
his colleagues studied 19 individuals with
multiple myeloma who underwent the procedure
while receiving chemotherapy.
Thirteen of the 19 patients completed the
full treatment protocol, and in all 13
immunological proteins were reduced. In
addition, kidney function was restored in
all 13 patients.
“This study saw over 70% of patients
becoming independent of dialysis, which is
greatly above the rate expected in this
setting,” said Dr. Hutchison.
“High cut-off hemodialysis is exciting
because it offers a novel way of treating
this group of patients who have historically
done very poorly,” he added.
The study was a pilot study and therefore
not controlled. Thus, it cannot be used to
change medical practice.
The EuLITE trial (European trial of free
light chain removal by extended
haemodialysis) is a randomized control trial
designed to further evaluate this treatment.
Dr Hutchison has received speaker honorarium
and travel expenses from Gambro. Co-authors
Mark Cook, MD, and Paul Cockwell, MD
(University Hospital Birmingham), report no
financial disclosures.
The article, entitled “Treatment of Acute
Renal Failure Secondary to Multiple Myeloma
with Chemotherapy and Extended High Cut-Off
Hemodialysis,” will appear online at
http://cjasn.asnjournals.org/ on
Wednesday, April 1, 2009, doi
10.2215/CJN.04590908.
Founded in 1966, the American Society of
Nephrology (ASN) is the world’s largest
professional society devoted to the study of
kidney disease.
Comprised of 11,000 physicians and
scientists, ASN continues to promote expert
patient care, to advance medical research,
and to educate the renal community.
ASN also informs policymakers about issues
of importance to kidney doctors and their
patients.
ASN funds research, and through its
world-renowned meetings and first-class
publications, disseminates information and
educational tools that empower physicians.
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