High dose methotrexate and extended hours high-flux hemodialysis for the treatment of primary central nervous system lymphoma in a patient with end stage renal disease.

This report discusses the case of a 52 year old female with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder, confined to the central nervous system, which was managed with high dose methotrexate (HDMTX) in the context of end stage renal disease. The patient received two doses of HDMTX followed by extended hours high-flux hemodialysis, plasma methotrexate concentration monitoring and leucovorin rescue. The hemodialysis technique used was effective in clearing plasma methotrexate and allowed delivery of HDMTX to achieve complete remission with limited and reversible direct methotrexate-related toxicity. Dialysis-dependent renal failure does not preclude the use of HDMTX when required for curative therapy of malignancy.