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.