Treatment of multiple myeloma and macroglobulinemai Waldenström: A long-term follow-up study.

Fifteen cases of multiple myeloma and 6 cases of macroglobulin emia Waldenstrom were followed up from 1957 to 1974. As for administration of drugs a low continuous dose regimen was mainly employed instead of a high intermittent dose regimen. 50% survival time from the onset of the disease was 18 months for multiple myeloma and 25 months for macroglobulinemia Waldenstrom. 3 cases of multiple myeloma are still living 44 months after the onset of symptoms. Cyclophosphamide and melphalan seem to have contributed much to the prolonged survival of these patients as well as improved supportive care.