ABSTRACT Background: Multiple myeloma is a disease of the elderly. However, 40% of patients are diagnosed before 65 years old. Outcomes regarding age as a prognostic factor in MM are heterogeneous. Method: We retrospectively analyzed clinical characteristics, response to treatment and survival of 282 patients with active newly-diagnosed multiple myeloma, comparing results between patients younger and older than 65 years. Main results: The frequency of multiple myeloma in those younger than 66 years was 53.2%. Younger patients presented with a more aggressive disease, more advanced Durie-Salmon stage (85.3% vs 73.5%; p = 0.013), extramedullary disease (12.7% vs 0%; p < 0.001), osteolytic lesions (78.7% vs 57.6%; p < 0.001) and bone plasmacytoma (25.3% vs 11.4%; p = 0.003). In spite of this, the overall response rate was similar between groups (80.6% vs 81.4%; p = 0.866). The overall survival was significantly longer in young patients (median, 65 months vs 41 months; p = 0.001) and higher in those who received autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The main cause of death was disease progression in both groups. Multivariable analysis revealed that creatinine ≥2 mg/dl, extramedullary disease, ≤very good partial remission and non-autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation are independent risk factors for shorter survival. Conclusion: Although multiple myeloma patients younger than 66 years of age have an aggressive presentation, this did not translate into an inferior overall survival, particularly in those undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Resumen La enfermedad por COVID-19 fue detectada a finales de 2019 en Wuhan, China. Debido a su rápida propagación fue declarada emergencia sanitaria de forma inicial y luego de identificar casos fuera de China con transmisión autóctona y caracterizado por una mortalidad considerablemente alta en países como Italia y España, fue declarada pandemia por la Organización Mundial de la Salud. Se ha evidenciado que los pacientes mayores y con antecedentes de enfermedades crónicas incluido el cáncer desarrollan una enfermedad severa, presentando mayor riesgo de mortalidad por SARS-CoV2/ COVID-19. Lo anterior es por supuesto especialmente importante en el manejo de pacientes con Mieloma Múltiple (MM), generando en el personal Médico nuevos desafíos, oportunidades de mejora y aprendizajes, que aporten al análisis riesgo-beneficio del tratamiento inmunodepresor en este tipo de patologías. El consenso tiene como objetivo brindar orientación sobre el manejo de pacientes con MM en estos momentos donde el profesional de la salud requiere información para llevar a cabo terapias eficientes en el cuidado del paciente.

Abstract COVID-19 disease was detected in late 2019 in Wuhan, China. Due to its rapid spread, it was initially declared a health emergency, but after cases with indigenous transmission were identified outside China, characterized by considerably high mortality in countries such as Italy and Spain, it was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. It has been shown that elderly patients with a history of chronic diseases, including cancer, develop a severe disease, presenting a higher risk of mortality from SARS-CoV2 / COVID-19. This becomes especially important in the management of patients with Multiple Myeloma (MM), generating new challenges, opportunities for improvement and learning opportunities in the health professionals, which will contribute to the risk-benefit analysis of immunosuppressive treatment for this type of pathology. The consensus aims to provide guidance for the management of patients with MM in these times when the health professional requires information to deliver efficient therapies in patient care.

Resumen: El mieloma múltiple representa la segunda neoplasia hematológica en frecuencia. Es una enfermedad incurable, cuya sobrevida se ha duplicado en los últimos años, vinculado esto a la aparición de nuevos fármacos. Los planes con bortezomib mejoran la respuesta, sobrevida libre de progresión y sobrevida global. En Uruguay, desde 2009, este fármaco tiene cobertura por parte del Fondo Nacional de Recursos. Este estudio tiene como objetivo analizar la efectividad y toxicidad de bortezomib en pacientes con diagnóstico de mieloma múltiple asistidos en el Hospital de Clínicas. Método: estudio observacional, retrospectivo y descriptivo en el que se incluyeron todos los pacientes con diagnóstico de mieloma múltiple que recibieron tratamiento con bortezomib en primera, segunda o tercera línea en el Hospital de Clínicas de Montevideo, Uruguay, desde 2009 a 2016. Resultados: 36 pacientes recibieron bortezomib. El plan más utilizado fue ciclofosfamida-bortezomib-dexametasona. La vía de administración fue subcutánea en 53,8%. La tasa de respuesta global fue de 79,5% (87% en primera línea y 68,8% en segunda o tercera línea). El 47,2% desarrolló polineuropatía y 30,6% citopenias. Con una mediana de seguimiento de 26 meses la sobrevida global fue de 61% y la sobrevida libre de progresión de 35 meses (IC 95%, 22,6-47,4). Conclusión: el tratamiento con bortezomib logró buena tasa de respuesta. La neuropatía fue la toxicidad más frecuente. Bortezomib es un fármaco efectivo y con adecuado perfil de seguridad para el tratamiento del mieloma múltiple en primera, segunda y tercera línea.

Resumo: O mieloma múltiplo é a segunda neoplasia hematológica mais frequente. É uma doença incurável, cuja sobrevida se duplicou nos últimos anos graças aparecimento de novos fármacos. Os esquemas terapêuticos com bortezomibe melhoram a resposta, sobrevida livre de progressão e a sobrevida global. Desde 2009 no Uruguai este fármaco é parcialmente financiado pelo Fondo Nacional de Recursos (FNR). O objetivo deste estudo é analisar a experiência com o uso de bortezomibe em pacientes com diagnóstico de mieloma múltiplo atendidos no Hospital de Clínicas. Método: estudo observacional, retrospectivo e descritivo; foram incluídos todos os pacientes com diagnóstico de mieloma múltiplo que receberam tratamento com bortezomibe em primeira, segunda e/ou terceira linha no Hospital de Clínicas de Montevidéu Uruguai, de 2009 a 2016. Resultados: 36 pacientes receberam bortezomibe. O esquema mais utilizado foi ciclofosfamida - bortezomibe - dexametasona. Em 54% dos pacientes a vida de administração foi subcutânea. A taxa de resposta global foi de 79,5% (87% em primeira linha e 68,8% em segunda ou terceira linha). 43,6% apresentou polineuropatia e 28,2% citopenias. Com uma mediana de seguimento de 26 meses a sobrevida global foi de 61% e a sobrevida livre de progressão de 35 meses (IC 95%, 22,6-47,4). Conclusão: o tratamento com bortezomibe apresentou uma boa taxa de resposta. A neuropatia foi o efeito tóxico mais frequente. Bortezomibe é um fármaco efetivo e com perfil de seguridade adequado para o tratamento do MM em primeira, segunda e terceira linha.

Abstract: Multiple mieloma represents the secon neoplasis in terms of frequency. It is an incurable disease, whose survival has doubled in recent years with the emergence of new drugs. Plan including bortezomib improve response, progression free survival and global survival. In Uruguay this drig is covered by the National Resources Find (FNR) since 2009. This study aims to analyse the experience of using bortezomib in patients with a diagnosis of multiple myeloma at the Clínicas Hospital. Method: observational, retrospective and descriptive study that included all patients with a diagnosis of multiple myeloma who received bortezomib treatment in the first, second and/or third line at the Clínicas Hospital of Montevideo; Uruguay from 2009 and 2016. Results: 36 patients received bortezomib. The most frequently used plan was cyclophosphamide-bortezomib-dexamethasone, subcutaneously administered in 54% of cases. Global response rate was 79.5% (87% in the first line, 68.8% in the second or third line). 43.6% of patients developed polineuropahty and 28.2 % cytopenia. With a median follow up of 26 months, global survival was 61% and progression free survival was 35 months, (CI 95%, 22.6-47.4). Conclusion: bortezomib treatment achieved a good reponse rate. Neuropathy was the most frequent toxicity. Bortezomib is an effective drug and it has the adequate safety profile to treat MM in the first, second and third line.