Adjuvant I.V. Iron Therapy During Erythropoetin Treatment of Anemic Patients With Lymphoproliferative Disorders.

Inclusion Criteria:

* Multiple myeloma, indolent NHL or CLL
* Anemia of cancer with a Hb concentration within the range ³ 90 - £ 110 g/L measured at two different occasions with at least two weeks interval but inclusion within 4 weeks after the first Hb measurement.
* Age \>18 years.
* Informed consent in writing.
* Demonstration of stainable iron in bone-marrow aspirate.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Planned or expected antineoplastic therapy (except systemic low dose maintenance corticosteroids) within the 6 weeks following inclusion.
* Cytostatic or any other antitumor therapy (except systemic low dose maintenance corticosteroids) within 8 weeks before inclusion.
* RBC transfusion within 8 weeks before inclusion.
* RHuEPO treatment within 12 weeks before inclusion.
* Any iron therapy within 4 weeks before inclusion.
* Ongoing infectious disease.
* Active inflammatory disease other than the malignant disease.
* Performance status ³ 3 according to the ECOG scale.
* Folate deficiency (S-folate \< 4,5 nmol/L).
* B12 deficiency (S-cobalamin \< 145 pmol/L).
* Ongoing haemolysis defined as S-haptoglobin \< 0,2 g/L
* Impaired kidney function (S-Creatinine \> 175 mmol/L)
* Acute or chronic clinical relevant hepatic dysfunction (S-bilirubin \>40 umol/L)
* S-Ferritin \>800 ug/L
* Ongoing significant neurological or psychiatric disorders including psychotic disorders or dementia.
* Unstable or uncontrolled disease related to or affecting cardiac function e.g., unstable angina, congestive heart failure (NYHA\>Class ll), uncontrolled hypertension (diastolic BP \>100 mmHg) and/or uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia.
* Known history of allergy to any of the study medications or their excipients.
* Concurrent treatment with experimental drugs not approved by Läkemedelsverket.
* Male and female patients with reproductive potential must use an approved contraceptive method (e.g. intrauterine device (IUD), birth control pills or barrier device) during the study and for 3 months after the study. Females with childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 7 days prior to study enrolment.