CLINICAL STUDY OF THALIDOMIDE ALONE OR COMBINED WITH DEXAMETHASONE IN THE TREATMENT OF MULTIPLE MYELOMA

OBJECTIVE To investigate the theraputic effects and adverse reactions of thalidomide combined with dexamethasome or not in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM).METHODS There were eight men and one woman in thalidomide alone group. The dose for each patient was 100 mg·d -1 at the begining and was increased stepwise according to the patient's tolerance with the maximum dose of 800 mg·d -1 .Eleven men and four woman were included in the combined treatment group,in which Dexamethasome (40 mg·d -1 )was used at d 1-4 ,d 9-12 ,d 17-21 when the dose of thalidomide increased to 400 mg·d -1 ,RESULTS The treating response rates were 55.6% and 73.3% for thalidomide alone group and for combination group, respectively. Both of the two groups had side effects of constipation and skin rash.CONCLUSION Both thalidomide alone or combined with dexamethasone was effective in the treatment of MM.