Pathology is characterized by the clonal proliferation of plasma cells, which usually produce monoclonal immunoglobulins, commonly referred to as paraprotein, or part of an immunoglobulin, such as the light chains. These cells are also known to promote an excess of osteoclastic activity.
A weak association with factors such as radiation, benzene, pesticide exposure, and farm working has been observed.
Often, this condition presents itself without outward symptoms, though pain resulting from the lytic lesions or pathological fractures is possible. It is also possible to experience blurred vision, headaches, hypercalcaemia, or renal failure.
Signs of pathology can include bleeding, bruising, purpura, pallor, and bony tenderness.
Medical treatments may include analgesia, antibiotics, intravenous fluids, bisphosphonates, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, allogenic stem cell transplantation, and plasmapheresis.
Pathology can result in infection, anaemia, bleeding, hair loss, gastrointestinal toxicity, organ damage, renal failure, amyloidosis, spinal cord compression, or bone fractures.
The median survival rate is approximately five years.
The acronym ‘CRAB’ is a mnemonic for the common symptoms associated with multiple myeloma: Calcium elevated, Renal Failure, Anaemia, Bone Lesions.
