Kidney failure needs to be addressed immediately at diagnosis and solutions are available to help 50% of patients recover their kidney function, according to Efstathious Kastritis, MD from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens at the recent IMS conference in Greece.

Kidneys can be damaged by multiple myeloma when extra protein leeches into the blood and clog up the kidneys. It is one of the most common symptoms of patients with multiple myeloma. A kidney biopsy is sometimes needed to determine the type of kidney condition the patient has.

Dr. Kastritis shared a few key points: 

Treat the Myeloma Immediately to Help Restore Kidney Function

If the myeloma turmor burden is lowered quickly after diagnosis, this can relieve the kidneys and allow them to restore to normal function. Treatments such as bortezomib (Velcade), higher doses of dexamethasone and possibly a checmotherapy like cyclophosphamide. An anti-CD monoclonal antibodies such as daratumumar or isatuximab will help reduce the tumor burden. The immunomodulator lenalidomide can actually be hard on the kidneys. 

He noted that dialysis didn't help as much as was expected. 

The most effective treatment for kidney recovery is treating the patient with appropriate myeloma therapy.