Key Information
In immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis, amyloid fibril deposits, derived from immunoglobulin light chains produced by a clonal plasma cell dyscrasia, accumulate in extracellular tissues and damage vital organs. High-dose melphalan and autologous stem cell transplantation (HDM/SCT) have been shown to induce both hematologic and clinical remissions in selected patients with AL amyloidosis, and it prolongs survival substantially when hematologic remissions are achieved.
We report on the outcome for AL amyloidosis patients treated with HDM/SCT for a >20-year period to address remission durability and long-term results. We previously reported on our experience of 312 patients treated with HDM/SCT in 2004, and this series was updated in Blood in 2011 with 421 patients.