There are often no symptoms in the early stages of myeloma. In some cases, myeloma may be discovered by accident during routine blood testing. When present, symptoms may be vague and similar to those of other conditions.
Rarely does any one patient have all of these symptoms.
- Bone pain: The accumulation of plasma cells and weakened bone structures often results in tiny fractures in the bones, causing bone pain. The back or the ribs are the most common sites of bone pain, but any bone can be affected. Pain is usually worse with movement and at night
- Fatigue: As the number of malignant plasma cells increases in the bone marrow, the growth and development of red blood cells in the bone marrow may be suppressed, causing low levels of red blood cells in the blood. This condition, know as anemia, can result in unusual fatigue or weakness
- Recurrent Infections: Increased numbers of myeloma cells can also decrease the production of infection-fighting white blood cells. This leads to reduced immunity and the possibility of frequent recurrent infections, such as bacterial pneumonia, urinary-tract infections, and shingles
- Kidney Damage or Failure: Excess protein in the blood, which is filtered through the kidneys, can cause kidney damage and lead to renal failure. Increased calcium in the blood-a condition known as hypercalcemia-overworks the kidneys and can cause a variety of symptoms, including loss of appetite, fatigue, muscle weakness, restlessness, difficulty in thinking or confusion, constipation, increased thirst, increased urine production, and nausea and vomiting
A myeloma diagnosis is often based on the presence of an increased number of plasma cells in the bone marrow and, in most cases, the presence of excess protein (M protein) in the blood or urine. Patients are generally classified into stages based upon clinical and laboratory evaluation.
| Stage |
Criteria |
Stage I |
B2M <3.5 and albumin ≥3.5 |
Stage II |
Patients not meeting criteria for Stage I or III |
Stage III |
B2M ≥5.5 |
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