title: Multiple myeloma in Mexico: a 20-year experience at a single institution.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In a 20-year period at a single institution, 66 cases of multiple myeloma (MM) were identified. The disease was less frequent in Mexico because in a multicenter study it represented 4.2% of all hematologic malignancies, whereas during this experience it was found to represent 7.7%. These figures contrast with those reported in Caucasians-10-15%.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were two patients <40 years of age; median age was 66 years. Bone pain was present in 54%, fatigue in 66%, and weight loss in 47%. Anemia was present in 75% of females and in 96% of males at diagnosis; median hemoglobin was 10.2 g/dL; abnormal monoclonal spike had a median of 2.87 g/dL (range 0-9.9). Four cases (6%) of nonsecretory myelomas were identified. Bence Jones proteinuria was present in 51 cases (77%). Forty six individuals were followed for >3 months (97-7,054 days, median 2,371 days).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Their survival (SV) was 51% at 540 days. Patients treated with melphalan/prednisone had a median SV of 33 months with a 72-month SV of 30%. Patients treated with vincristine/adriamycin/dexamethasone had an SV of 40% at 42 months, whereas those given high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell rescue had an SV of 80% at 22 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical features of Mexican patients with MM were not significantly different from those reported for other populations; best results from treatment were observed in patients administered autologous stem cell transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Hematología y Medicina Interna de Puebla, Calle 8B Sur 3710, 72530 Puebla, Mexico. gruiz1@clinicaruiz.com
authors.forename: Guillermo J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Argüelles
authors.forename: J David
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Gómez-Rangel
authors.forename: Guillermo J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Delgado
authors.forename: Leticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aguilar-Romero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors