What is your approach to pRBC transfusion support for myeloma-related anemia?
How much weight do you give to a hgb/hct threshold versus symptoms?
Answer from: Medical Oncologist at Academic Institution
There is likely not a single right answer to this.The data suggests that a hemoglobin threshold of 7 g/dL is reasonable for critically ill patients rather than a higher threshold. The Clinical Practice Guidelines From the AABB recommend a threshold of 7-8 g/dL. In general, I follow these rules:...
Answer from: Medical Oncologist at Community Practice
For myeloma-related anemia, I tend to have a restrictive RBC transfusion threshold (Hb 7-8).
I use ESAs for chemotherapy-associated anemia when I can't dose reduce (e.g. monoclonal antibodies) or when drug dose is tied to efficacy and the patient is just getting started, e.g. proteasome inhib...
Answer from: Medical Oncologist at Academic Institution
Very little that I'd add to the excellent answers by @Ben Derman and @Craig C. Hofmeister above. I will add that, when Hgb is disproportionately low compared to % plasma cells in the bone marrow, I suspect that inflammatory cytokines within the tumor microenvironment are driving the anemia more so t...