Plasma Cell Myeloma

Lymphocytes may mature into plasma cells, which produce antibodies that fight infection. When transformed, this leads to malignancy of plasma cells, which is called plasma cell myeloma or plasmacytoma. While the causes remain unknown, the transformation may be preceded by a condition called “Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS)”. A small percentage of the elderly population have MGUS. 

Common Subtypes

• Plasma Cell Myeloma
• Plasmacytoma
• Light Chain Disease
• Non-Secretory Myeloma
• Amyloidosis

Clinical Presentations

• More common among the elderly
• Bone pain
• Bone fracture
• Anaemia
• Kidney failure
• Infections
• High blood calcium
• Bleeding tendency

• Presence of paraprotein in blood
• Bone X-ray or bone MRI showing abnormal bone changes
• Bone marrow or tumour biopsy showing abnormal plasma cells in bone marrow
• Examination of kidney function and blood calcium level
   

Treatments

• Various combinations of chemotherapy
• Bortezomib (Velcade)
• Thalidomide or Lenalidomide
• Dexamethasone or Prednisolone
• Cyclophosphamide or Melphalan
• Young patients may benefit from autologous or allogeneic bone marrow transplantation 

Prognosis
Survival has improved to a great extent in recent years because of the availability of many new effective drugs.