Challenges of managing multiple myeloma patients with sickle cell disease: A case report and review of literature

Abstract

Background: A congenital hemolytic anemia, sickle cell disease can present with various clinical findings. Sickle cell disease is typically a disease of younger people and multiple myeloma typically occurs in older individuals. Multiple my-eloma is rare among patients with sickle cell disease. Both multiple myeloma and sickle cell disease can cause various types of organ damage by different mechanisms. We report a case of a patient who was born with sickle cell disease and presented with multiple myeloma lat-er in life. Although he responded to anti-myeloma therapy, he died of hepatic and renal failure from complica-tions of both multiple myeloma and sickle cell disease. We discuss the complexity involved and present a review of the literature on managing multiple myeloma in relation to hepatic iron overload and end-stage renal disease in the setting of multiple myeloma and underly-ing sickle cell disease.