Case report
Gastrointestinal relapse of multiple myeloma and sustained response to lenalidomide: a case report
1 Centre for Oncology, Geneva University Hospital, 4 rue Gabrielle Perret-Gentil, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland
2 Department of Pathology, Geneva University Hospital, 4 rue Gabrielle Perret-Gentil, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland
3 Department of Radiology, Geneva University Hospital, 4 rue Gabrielle Perret-Gentil, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland
4 Department of Gastroenterology, Geneva University Hospital, 4 rue Gabrielle Perret-Gentil, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland
Journal of Medical Case Reports 2011, 5:110 doi:10.1186/1752-1947-5-110
Published: 19 March 2011Abstract
Introduction
Gastrointestinal relapse in patients with multiple myeloma is very rare and, when reported, always associated with a poor prognosis.
Case presentation
We describe the case of a 71-year-old Caucasian man who presented with life-threatening hematemesis and melena due to a digestive relapse of his multiple myeloma. Despite the active hemorrhage, we initiated a third-line treatment with lenalidomide. The response was spectacular and long-lasting.
Conclusions
Clinicians must consider digestive tract involvement in myeloma patients presenting with a gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Furthermore, myeloma patients do benefit from novel oral drugs, even when they are critically ill.
