title: The potential role of curcumin (diferuloylmethane) in plasma cell dyscrasias/paraproteinemia.
abstract: Plasma cell dyscrasias, most commonly associated with paraproteinemia, are a diverse group of diseases. Monoclonal gammopathy of undefined significance (MGUS) can precede multiple myeloma, a progressive neoplastic disease. MGUS occurs in association with a variety of other diseases and currently no treatment is recommended but rather "watchful waiting". Given that the size of the M-protein is a risk factor for disease progression, early intervention with the aim of reducing the paraprotein load would provide an innovative therapeutic tool. Preliminary results from our pilot study show a drop of between 5% and 30% serum paraprotein in patients taking curcumin compared with patients on placebo. Curcumin is a diferuloylmethane present in extracts of the rhizome of the Curcuma longa plant. As a natural product, this has exciting potential in the treatment of plasma cell dyscrasias.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, St George Hospital, Kogarah, Australia.
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Golombick
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Diamond
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