Multiple myeloma — diagnosis and treatment | T&F

Anaemia is found in 40% of patients at diagnosis with multiple myeloma.

A paraprotein has to be present to diagnose myeloma.

IgG is the commonest paraprotein secreted in myeloma.

MGUS is characterised by less than 10% plasma cells on bone marrow biopsy.

A plain film skeletal survey is the optimal test for detection of bony lytic lesions.

Anaemia is an indication for treatment of myeloma

Myeloma is never seen in patients under 40 years old.

The Durie-Salmon clinical staging system is most often used for prognostication in myeloma.

Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is no longer recommended because newer agents are more efficacious.

All patients should have cytogenetic analysis performed as this has prognostic significance.