title: Multiple myeloma: five-year experience at a University Hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present a descriptive analysis of patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma, correlating it with mortality.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study that analyzed consecutive patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma under follow-up at the Faculdade de Medicina do ABC from 2006 to 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median age was 58.5 years. Anemia was observed upon diagnosis in 87% of patients, hypercalcemia in 38%, and creatinine levels higher than 2 mg/dL in 19%. M protein was detected in 85.7%. The five-year survival rate was 74.6%. Multivariate analysis showed statistical significance for Durie-Salmon staging (p = 0.037). The International Staging System and immunoglobulin type did not correlate significantly with survival of the group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This set of cases from a tertiary public healthcare service reflect the approach of multiple myeloma in a predominantly young population with advanced clinical staging, with results comparable to those of the literature.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein - HIAE, São Paulo, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Todaro
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina do ABC - FMABC, Santo André, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Jandey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bigonha
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina do ABC - FMABC, Santo André, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Davimar Miranda Maciel
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Borducchi
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina do ABC - FMABC, Santo André, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Leandro Luongo
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina do ABC - FMABC, Santo André, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Damila Cristina
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Trufelli
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina do ABC - FMABC, Santo André, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Suzane Martines Alves de
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sales
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina do ABC - FMABC, Santo André, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Marina Rampazzo Del Valhe
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Shiroma
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina do ABC - FMABC, Santo André, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Auro Del
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Giglio