title: The clinical and laboratory features of plasma cell neoplasialn the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the clinical and laboratory features of Multiple Myeloma at presentation in a tertiary centre in Port Harcourt Southern Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical records of all patients diagnosed for plasma cell neoplasia within a 10 year period at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. Clinical presentation, investigation results, support and specific therapy used were documented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total 20 patients were diagnosed with multiple myeloma, 70% were male, the mean age was 61.30 +/- 8.8 years, 50% of them had pathological fractures. The mean duration before presentation was 11.89 +/- 11.7 months (Median = 7 months) and associated with poor outcome. The most common method treatment was chemotherapy with Melphalan and Predisolone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MM is a disease of the elderly that can negatively impact on the quality of life due to the complications associated with it. A long duration of symptoms before presentation is a common problem and it has been associated with substantial morbidity and mortality in this study.
authors.affiliation: Haematology Department, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State Nigeria. hannahomunakwe@yahoo.com
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Omunakwe
authors.forename: K I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Korubo
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Onodingene
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Nwauche
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D009549:Nigeria; D012189:Retrospective Studies