A case of aggressive myeloma recognized shortly after the remission following high-dose chemotherapy with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation

Int J Hematol. 2010 Oct;92(3):531-4. doi: 10.1007/s12185-010-0665-y. Epub 2010 Aug 20.

Abstract

A 45-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with acute renal failure and pyrexia. In August 2005, the patient was diagnosed with IgA-λ type multiple myeloma with chromosome 13 deletion, and received three cycles of vinclistine, adriamycin and dexamethasone followed by high-dose melphalan-based autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation: this resulted in remission 2 months before admission to our hospital. Serum IgA concentration was within the normal limit, but an excess of myeloma cells in bone marrow was confirmed. Immunoelectrophoresis revealed BJP-λ production with no IgA-λ. The patient received several courses of chemotherapy with mechanical ventilation and regular hemodialysis. The progression of the illness was rapid: multiple organ failure promptly developed and the patient died 2 months after admission. Autopsy revealed deposition of light chain λ protein in multiple organs. We report this unusual case of aggressive myeloma recognized shortly after successful autologous transplantation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Kidney Injury / complications
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Chromosome Deletion
  • Chromosome Disorders / complications
  • Chromosome Disorders / diagnosis
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13
  • Dexamethasone / administration & dosage
  • Dexamethasone / therapeutic use
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage
  • Doxorubicin / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Fever / complications
  • Humans
  • Melphalan / administration & dosage
  • Melphalan / therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Myeloma / complications
  • Multiple Myeloma / drug therapy*
  • Multiple Myeloma / pathology*
  • Multiple Myeloma / surgery
  • Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Remission Induction
  • Transplantation, Autologous
  • Vincristine / administration & dosage
  • Vincristine / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Vincristine
  • Dexamethasone
  • Doxorubicin
  • Melphalan

Supplementary concepts

  • 13q deletion syndrome