[Erythropoietin treatment of tumor-associated anemia in patients with multiple myeloma].

Anemia of malignancy is a complication of neoplastic disease which causes impairing symptoms and often requires blood transfusions. In this clinical trial, we have treated 13 patients suffering from chronic anemia of malignancy and multiple myeloma with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) three times a week. Eleven patients responded to the treatment by appropriate increases of their hemoglobin levels and the eventual correction of the anemic state, one non-responding patient had to terminate the treatment early because of transfusion requirements. Under rHuEPO therapy, the evaluated parameters of iron metabolism indicated the enhanced synthesis of hemoglobin. The symptoms of anemia subsided in the responding patients and most of them reported a hightened subjective sense of well-being. No adverse side effects, particularly no episodes of hypertension, were observed in any patient.