Objective To evaluate the efficacy of low-dose dexamethasone combined with thalidomide as standardized treatment in multiple myeloma.Methods 56 patients were diagnosed with multiple myeloma。36patients among them were previously untreated or recurrently intractable,and the other 20 patients were in a stable condition.Low-dose dexamethasone and thalidomide was adopted as therapeutic schedule.23 patients in non-randomized matched historical control group were treated with standard-dose dexamethasone and thalidomide.Results Among the 36 previously untreated and refractory patients,21 case achieved varied degrees of remission.The total effective rate of this treatment was 65.63%,which includes 2case of CR(6.25%),1case of VGPR(13.1%)and 18 cases of PR(46.25%).The PFS and OS in one-year follow up were 53.7% and 43.5%,respectively.The total effective rate of 23 patients in control group was 70.0%,which includes 2cases of CR(10%),3cases of VGPR(15%)and 9cases of PR(45%).The treatment efficiency in two groups were consistent,showing no significantly statistic difference(P>0.05).While the incidence rate of lung infection and other side effects in low-dose dexamethasone group was significantly lower than the standard-dose dexamethasone group,and the difference was statistically significant(P>0.05).Conclusion The therapeutic schedule of low-dose dexamethasone combined with thalidomide is effective in treating incipient and refractory patients with multiple myeloma and can be used for maintenance therapy in patients with stable condition of multiple myeloma due to the relatively mild side effects. 更多