Changes in renal function after different tandem hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation approaches in patients with multiple myeloma

This study was done to observe the alteration of the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in multiple myeloma patients according to type of tandem hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Forty-one patients were enrolled in this study. Twenty patients underwent autologous HSCT (auto-HSCT) and 21 patients underwent allogeneic HSCT (allo-HSCT). The changes in eGFR after the two tandem HSCT modalities were different between the two groups, according to the donor of stem cells (P = 0.016). In the auto-HSCT group, the eGFR, recorded 12 months after secondary HSCT, was significantly decreased compared with the eGFR recorded before stem cell mobilization (P = 0.005). Although there was no significant difference, the trend showed that the eGFR after allo-HSCT decreased from the previous HSCT until a month after secondary HSCT. In addition, after 6 months of secondary HSCT, the eGFR recovered to the level recorded prior to the HSCT (P = 0.062). This difference may be due to total body irradiation, a calcineurin inhibitor, or maintemance therapy. Changes in renal function would be monitored closely for these patients. The recovery of the eGFR would be a main focus for the patients treated with the total body irradiation or the calcineurin inhibitor, a progressive decline of the eGFR would be also crucial for the patients treated with maintenance therapy.