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 …

The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved safety label revisions for the multiple myeloma drug Revlimid (lenalidomide), adding a warning for patients with decreased kidney function. Kidney impairment causes the body to clear Revlimid more slowly than normal, and kidney impaired patients should therefore receive reduced dosages.

Revlimid is a novel therapeutic agent that has proven effective, often in combination with dexamethasone (Decadron), in treating initial and relapsed multiple myeloma. Unlike some drugs that are metabolized (broken down) in the liver, Revlimid actively circulates through the body until the …