1.
Plasma exchange when myeloma presents as acute renal failure: a randomized, controlled trial
Clark WF, Stewart AK, Rock GA, Sternbach M, Sutton DM, Barrett BJ, Heidenheim AP, Garg AX, Churchill DN, Canadian Apheresis Group
Annals of Internal Medicine. 2005;143((11):):777-84.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Two small, randomized trials provide conflicting evidence about the benefits of plasma exchange for patients with acute renal failure at the onset of multiple myeloma. OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of 5 to 7 plasma exchanges on a composite outcome in patients with acute renal failure at the onset of multiple myeloma. DESIGN Randomized, open, controlled trial, stratified by chemotherapy and dialysis dependence, conducted from 1998 to 2004. SETTING Hospital plasma exchange units in 14 Canadian medical centers. PARTICIPANTS 104 patients between 18 and 81 years of age with acute renal failure at the onset of myeloma. INTERVENTION Study participants were randomly assigned to conventional therapy plus 5 to 7 plasma exchanges of 50 mL per kg of body weight of 5% human serum albumin for 10 days or conventional therapy alone. Ninety-seven participants completed the 6-month follow-up. MEASUREMENTS The primary outcome was a composite measure of death, dialysis dependence, or glomerular filtration rate less than 0. 29 mL x s(-2) x m(-2) (<30 mL/min per 1. 73 m2). RESULTS At enrollment, the plasma exchange and control groups were similar for dialysis dependence, chemotherapy, sex, age, hypercalcemia, serum albumin level, 24-hour urine protein level, serum creatinine level, and Durie-Salmon staging. The primary composite end point occurred in 33 of 57 (57. 9%) patients in the plasma exchange group and in 27 of 39 (69. 2%) patients in the control group (difference between groups, 11. 3% [95% CI, -8. 3% to 29. 1%]; P = 0. 36). One third of patients in each group died. LIMITATIONS The study was small, used a composite outcome, and did not use renal biopsy as an inclusion criterion. Recruiting physicians were blinded to treatment allocation but not to treatment thereafter. CONCLUSIONS In patients with acute renal failure at the onset of multiple myeloma, there is no conclusive evidence that 5 to 7 plasma exchanges substantially reduce a composite outcome of death, dialysis dependence, or glomerular filtration rate less than 0. 29 mL. s(-2). m(-2) (<30 mL/min per 1. 73 m2) at 6 months.
2.
Pentastarch instead of albumin as replacement fluid for therapeutic plasma exchange. The Canadian Apheresis Group
Rock G, Sutton DM, Freedman J, Nair RC
Journal of Clinical Apheresis. 1997;12((4):):165-9.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human albumin is commonly used as a replacement fluid in therapeutic plasma exchange (PE). In order to determine whether Pentaspan (PES), a synthetic low molecular weight starch solution, might be an effective substitute, we compared albumin with PES in 12 patients with myasthenia gravis or Guillain-Barre syndrome. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Six patients were randomly assigned to receive PES and six to receive albumin as replacement fluid during their course of PE, which consisted of two to five treatments delivered over a maximum of 10 days. All patients were hospitalized and observed closely. Blood pressures were recorded every 4 hours and daily measurements were made of hematologic, coagulation, and immunoglobulin parameters. RESULTS Individual exchange volumes were similar in each group (37 ml/kg--range 6-62--in patients receiving albumin vs. 41 ml/kg--range 6-41--in those receiving PES). Changes in immunoglobulin levels and coagulation parameters were similar but mild, transient thrombocytopenia was observed in three subjects given PES. Total serum protein and albumin levels decreased significantly in patients replaced with PES. Clinically, PES was well tolerated. Hypotension occurred in one patient who developed septic shock due to an infected femoral catheter; in another patient, a pre-existing pleural effusion was thought to increase slightly. CONCLUSIONS PES appears to be a safe replacement fluid for PE, but larger clinical studies are required to confirm these findings.