Plasma exchange combined with bortezomib-based chemotherapy is effective for early renal recovery in a patient with IgD-λ type multiple myeloma

The immunoglobulin (Ig) D type is a rare variant of multiple myeloma (MM), that accounts for 1–2% of all cases. Compared to the more common types of MM, IgD MM is known to have more severe symptoms at presentation, and a poorer prognosis. A woman was admitted to our hospital for severe acute kidney disease and disorder (AKD) and back pain, and was started on hemodialysis. The renal biopsy revealed light chain cast nephropathy. She was diagnosed with IgD-λ MM based on Bence-Jones protein expression and high IgD serum levels, and started bortezomib therapy with plasma exchange (PE). After three sessions of PE, the serum free light chain levels decreased by 92%, and she was withdrawn from dialysis. The patient underwent autologous transplantation and is still in remission, demonstrating the benefits of a bortezomib-based regimen in combination with PE for IgD MM with AKD.