[Erythropoietin in multiple myeloma].

In a 59-year-old man with multiple myeloma (kappa-light chain paraproteinaemia) in stage IIIB, bone marrow infiltration with atypical plasma cells was reduced by five cytostatic treatment courses with vincristine, melphalan, cyclophosphamide and prednisone (VMCP protocol), but anaemia requiring blood transfusion persisted (haemoglobin concentration 5.3 g/dl). Even administration of interferon alpha-2b (5 million units s.c. every other day) failed to alter this. Only a combination of interferon and erythropoietin (150 U/kg i.v. every other day) achieved lasting regression of the anaemia (haemoglobin concentration up to 14 g/dl). In four other anaemic patients with multiple myeloma, stage III, treated according to the VMCP protocol but without additional interferon, erythropoietin did not improve erythropoiesis.