D. DIMER LEVEL IN MULTIPLE MYELOMA PATIENTS PRE AND POST TREATMENT

Hiba Habeb Alla Mohammed Hussein* and Hiba Khalil

ABSTRACT

Background: Thromboembolism is relatively common and serious event in individuals with malignancy and different type of cancer. Patients with Multiple Myeloma are at higher risk for venous thromboembolism with reported incidences of this complication being up to 30% especially in patients receiving multi agent chemotherapy and anti-angiogenic drugs. This study aimed to evaluate (D. dimer) level among Multiple Myeloma Patients pre and post thalidomide treatment, in Khartoum state -Sudan. Materials and Methods: The selection criteria of Sudanese MM patients depend on CBC results, bone marrow examination and hemoglobin electrophoresis. While exclusion criteria include Inflammatory, hypertension and DM to avoid the false positive results .Blood samples from 30 Sudanese MM patients were collected before and after one month of thalidomide treatment .The treatment protocol is thalidomide admitted 100mg/OD, Dexamethasone 40mg every week and Aspirin 100mg/day. 67% were males and 33%were females, with mean age was 44 years. The D. dimer level was measured by I ChromaTM. based on immunoassay principle. Data were analyzed by using statistical package for the social science (SPSS) version 21. Results and Conclusion: Our study revealed statistically significant difference of D. dimer level before and after administration of thalidomide treatment. The mean of D. dimer level among Sudanese patients of MM after treatment (1293.96 ng/ml ±928.45) was significantly higher than the level before treatment (478.85ng/ml ±317.37), (P. value 0.001). D. dimer level should be considered as follow up test before and after treatment to monitor the prognostic situation of the patient from the risk of thrombosis.

Keywords: Multiple Myeloma, D. dimer, Sudan.