The results of a small-scale clinical study in England suggest that a new hemodialysis procedure may increase the lifespan of multiple myeloma patients suffering from kidney complications.

Kidney failure is a relatively common complication in multiple myeloma patients and can lead to life-threatening health issues. Hemodialysis clinically removes toxic waste substances from the blood, performing the same function as a healthy kidney.

Previous to this study, researchers had predicted that chemotherapy in combination with the new procedure, called high cutoff hemodialysis, might improve the condition of multiple myeloma patients. High cutoff dialysis removes immunological proteins that may cause kidney damage, preventing further damage to the organs.

This new study, conducted under Dr. Colin Hutchison of the University Hospital Birmingham (England), evaluated 19 multiple myeloma patients who were treated with both chemotherapy and high cutoff hemodialysis. Thirteen successfully completed the hemodialysis regimen, and all 13 showed reduced immunological proteins and restored kidney function. Seventy percent of the patients showed no further need for dialysis procedures, “which is greatly above the rate expected,” according to Dr. Hutchinson. These patients’ kidneys were restored to a point where they were functioning healthfully.

“High cutoff hemodialysis is exciting because it offers a novel way of treating this group of patients who have historically done very poorly,” added Dr. Hutchinson.

Because this was an uncontrolled pilot study, the results should not be used to impact medical practice. High cutoff dialysis is being further evaluated in a randomized controlled trial, the EuLITE trail (European trial of free light chain removal by extended hemodialysis).

For more information, see either the related press release at the American Society of Nephrology (pdf) or the full text of the relevant journal article at the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.