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Background The treatment of choice of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) is an induction with proteasome inhibitors followed autologous stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Since 2013, the treatment of these patients in the public system is based on CTD (cyclophosphamide, thalidomide, and dexamethasone). Aim To evaluate the response rates achieved with CTD, and the results of HSCT in patients with NDMM in the public setting. Material and Methods Data from patients considered as candidates for HSCT from different centers of the National Adult Antineoplastic Drug Program (PANDA, for its acronym in Spanish), diagnosed between 2013 and 2017, was analyzed. The response to treatment of first and second lines of treatment was evaluated, in addition to the results of HSCT. An optimal Response was defined as the sum of strict complete remission, complete remission and very good partial response (sCR, CR and VGPR). Results One hundred and seventy-seven patients were analyzed, 54% women, and 53% with IgG multiple myeloma. Information about the international staging system was retrieved in 127 patients (71%). Seventeen percent were ISS I, 22% in ISS II and 32% ISS III. CTD was used as first treatment in 106 patients (60%), and cyclophosphamide, bortezomib and dexamethasone (CyBorD) in 13 (7%). As first line, CTD had an overall response of 50.9%, and CyBorD of 76.9%. Thirty patients were treated with bortezomib as second line treatment. Forty patients (22%) underwent HSCT. The 5-year Overall Survival (OS) in transplanted patients and non-transplanted patients was 100 and 62% respectively (p < 0.01). Conclusions The response rate achieved by CTD in these patients is suboptimal. The response to CyBorD was better.

Background: We report a 67-year-old man presenting with abdominal pain of acute onset, pallor, jaundice and behavioral changes after ingestion of fava beans. In the initial evaluation he appeared acutely ill and had resting dyspnea, edema and jaundice. His initial laboratory assessment disclosed azotemia, elevated lactate dehydrogenase levels, a low hemoglobin concentration (4.9 /dL) and a high corrected reticulocyte count (4,7%) with negative direct and indirect Coombs' test. The patient was transferred to the ICU, where he received support therapy with hemodialysis, mechanical ventilation, vasoactive drugs and transfusions of packed red cells. The evolution after 1 month was favorable and he was discharged without anemia and with normal renal function. Three months after discharge, the glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase screening study did not demonstrate detectable enzymatic activity.

POEMS syndrome (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrine abnormality, M-protein, plasma cell dyscrasia, and skin lesions) is a rare atypical plasma cell dyscrasia with characteristic para neoplastic manifestations. Glomeruloid hemangioma is a typical skin change pathogenetically related with elevated levels of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). We report a 69 year-old woman that presented cachexia associated with diabetes, hypothyroidism and severe sensitive motor polyneuropathy. Her skin changes included hyper pigmentation, acrocyanosis and glomeruloid hemangioma. The subsequent study revealed a monoclonal gammopathy lambda type; a unique lytic vertebral lesion and a clonal plasma cell proliferation. Treatment with prednisone 0.5 mg/kg and melphalan 0,25 mg/kg in cycles of 4 days every 4 weeks was started, but the patient was lost from follow up.