title: Acute phase proteins and prognosis in multiple myeloma.
abstract: Serum IL-6 levels have been shown to correlate with disease severity and prognosis in patients with plasma cell dyscrasias. Among its pleiotropic actions, IL-6 is also the major regulator of the acute phase response in humans. The possible impact on survival of the major serum acute phase proteins (s.APP) [C-reactive protein (s.CRP), alpha-1-antitrypsin (s.AAT), haptoglobin, acid alpha-1-glycoprotein and alpha-2-macroglobulin (used as control)] was assessed on a population of 103 consecutive, previously untreated myeloma patients. Univariate analysis showed that among the acute phase proteins only s.AAT (P = 0.015) and s.CRP (P = 0.027) were significantly correlated with survival. The multivariate Cox proportional hazard model applied to s.APP and other common parameters showed that s.beta-2-microglobulin (s.b2M), s.calcium, s.creatinine, BM plasma cell percentage, age and s.AAT correlated significantly with survival. Combining s.b2M and s.AAT allowed stratification of myeloma patients: those with low levels of s.b2M (< or = 3 mg/l) and of s.AAT (< or = 3 g/l) presented an excellent prognosis (median survival exceeding 10 years) while those presenting higher values of the two parameters presented a median survival of 2.5 years (P = 0.002).
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Clinica Medica II, University of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Merlini
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Perfetti
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Gobbi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Quaglini
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Franciotta
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marinone
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ascari
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000032:analysis; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein