Is erythropoietin treatment safe and effective in myeloma patients receiving hemodialysis?

Still few data are available on efficacy and safety of recombinant erythropoietin (rEPO) in patients with myeloma and end-stage renal failure (ESRF); two such hemodialysed patients are reported in whom only partial response was observed, despite iron, folic acid supplementation and, in one case, high doses of rEPO (320 IU/kg/week). Despite improvement in well being and no need of further transfusion, hemoglobin did not reach 80 g/l. One patient developed recurrence 4 weeks after starting rEPO. Patients with ESRF and myeloma should benefit from rEPO but particular attention should be paid to marrow proliferation.