What is multiple myeloma?
My friend has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma. I have never heard of this disease before and would like to know what it is.
Doctor's answer (1)
Multiple myeloma is a malignant plasma cell disorder, classified as a type of B-cell lymphoma, and is categorized by the World Health Organization as plasma cell myeloma/plasmacytoma. This disease is characterized by abnormal proliferation of plasma cells in the bone marrow, accompanied by excessive production of monoclonal immunoglobulin. A very small number of patients may have non-secretory multiple myeloma, in which M protein is not produced.
It is characterized by abnormal proliferation of bone marrow plasma cells with excessive production of monoclonal immunoglobulin; a small minority of patients may not produce M protein and are classified as non-secretory MM. Multiple myeloma is often accompanied by multiple lytic bone lesions, hypercalcemia, anemia, renal damage, and other symptoms, and is one of the more common hematologic malignancies.
The exact cause of multiple myeloma is not completely understood, but several factors are known to increase the risk of developing the disease, including age (more common in people over 60 years old), genetic predisposition, and exposure to certain chemical substances. Diagnosis is typically based on clinical symptoms, blood and urine tests, bone marrow biopsy, and imaging studies.
