Multiple myeloma: review of 869 cases.
A review  of 869 cases of multiple myeloma seen at the Mayo Clinic from 1960 through 1971 revealed that 98% of patients were 40 years of age or older and that 61% of them were males. Inital findings were bone pain in 68% of patients, anemia in 62%, renal insufficiency in 55%, hypercalcemia in 30%, a palpable liver in 21%, and a palpable spleen in 5%. Proteinuria was noted in 88% and Bence Jones proteinuria was identified in 49%. Skeletal roentgenographic abnormalities were seen in 79%. Serum protein electrophoresis showed a spike in 76%, hypogammaglobulinemia in 9%, and minor or no abnormalities in 15%, and a globulin spike was seen 75% of the urinary electrophoretic patterns. Immunoelectrophoresis of the serum revealed a monoclonal heavy chain in 83% and a monoclonal light chain in the serum, in 8% (Bence Jones proteinemia). Three patients had no monoclonal protein in the serum or the urine ("nonsecretory"). Amyloidosis was found in 7% of the patients. Follow-up information was obtained in 99.7% ; 82% of the 869 patients have died. Infection and renal insufficiency were the most common specific causes of death. The median survival was 20 months; 66% of the patients were alive at 1 year and 18% at 5 years.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D001842:Bone and Bones; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004586:Electrophoresis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007122:Immunoelectrophoresis; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010808:Physical Examination; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014520:Urethane / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D008055:Lipids; D013256:Steroids; D014527:Uric Acid; D014520:Urethane; D003404:Creatinine; D002118:Calcium; D011241:Prednisone