title: Impact of CRAB Symptoms in Survival of Patients with Symptomatic Myeloma in Novel Agent Era.
abstract: The acronymCRABsummarizes the most typical clinical manifestations of multiple myeloma, these being hypercalcemia, renal failure, anemia, and bone disease. CRAB can be used to distinguish between active, symptomatic multiple myeloma and monoclonal gammopathy of undermined significance or smoldering myeloma. The distinction is relevant not only for classification and diagnosis but also for therapy. CRAB factors influence the prognosis of multiple myeloma. However, it is unclear whether the presence of CRAB factors has an influence on the prognosis of myeloma treated with novel agents. In the current study, patients with hypercalcemia and bone disease showed a significantly worse prognosis, whereas anemia and renal failure showed no difference in survival. Novel agents used for treatment of patients with renal failure suggested a favorable outcome compared with conventional therapy. Bone disease was the most common factor and may have the strongest prognostic value in symptomatic myeloma patients using novel agents.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Kansai Medical University , Hirakata, Japan.
authors.forename: Aya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakaya
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Kansai Medical University , Hirakata, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Kansai Medical University , Hirakata, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Satake
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Kansai Medical University , Hirakata, Japan.
authors.forename: Takahisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Kansai Medical University , Hirakata, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Azuma
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Kansai Medical University , Hirakata, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsubokura
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Kansai Medical University , Hirakata, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hotta
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Kansai Medical University , Hirakata, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Kansai Medical University , Hirakata, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Kansai Medical University , Hirakata, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Kansai Medical University , Hirakata, Japan.
authors.forename: Shosaku
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nomura
keywords: CRAB; conventional therapy; novel agent; symptomatic myeloma