SUMMARIES FOR PATIENTS.

The article focuses on a study, which was conducted to find out whether plasma exchange could help patients with multiple myeloma whose kidneys had already been damaged by myeloma protein, and, specifically, whether plasma exchange could reduce the incidence of progressive kidney failure. 97 patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma and worsening acute kidney function were studied. The researchers treated all patients for multiple myeloma but also divided them randomly into 2 groups: One group received plasma exchange therapy, and the other group did not. The researchers evaluated both groups over the next 6 months to see whether they developed severe kidney failure, required long-term dialysis, or died.