Year: 2011
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant plasma cell disorder that accounts for approximately 10%\\nof all hematologic cancers.1-2 MM is characterized by clonal proliferation of malignant plasma\\ncells in the bone marrow, which secrete a homogeneous immunoglobulin product known as\\nmonoclonal (M) protein or paraprotein. Typical features of MM include osteolytic bone lesions,\\nrenal disease, anemia, hypercalcemia and immunodeficiency.3\\nThe pathological development of MM is a multistep process and starts with the emergence of\\nan asymptomatic premalignant stage of clonal plasma cell proliferation known as \\xe2\\x80\\x9cmonoclonal\\ngammopathy of undetermined significance\\xe2\\x80\\x9d (MGUS), occurring in about 3% of individuals\\nabove the age of 50. MGUS cells secrete monoclonal immunoglobulin (Ig) which may progress\\nto smouldering MM and ultimately to symptomatic intramedullary and extramedullary multiple\\nmyeloma, or plasma cell leukemia; expressing the same Ig. Smouldering MM has a stable intramedullary\\ntumor cell content of >10%, but no osteolytic lesions or other complications of\\nmalignant MM. Patients with MGUS have a risk to progress to myeloma or a related malignancy\\nat a rate of 1% a year.4-5 The prevalence of both MGUS and MM increases markedly with age,\\nand is slightly more common in men than in women. The incidence is about two-fold higher\\nin African Americans than in Caucasians. The median length of survival after diagnosis is approximately\\n3-5 years.
Author: Sophie L. Corthals
Language: English
Subfield: Hematology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1504613920