Multiple Myeloma: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment
الورم النقوي المتعدد
Multiple myeloma is a cancer of marrow plasma cells that can affect bones, kidneys, blood counts and immunity. Assessment distinguishes active disease from precursor conditions.
What is Multiple Myeloma?
Normal plasma cells make antibodies; abnormal cells may produce a monoclonal protein. Detecting that protein alone does not prove treatment-requiring myeloma.
Related reading: Other causes of musculoskeletal pain.
Symptoms
Bone pain, particularly in the back or ribs, fatigue, recurrent infections, thirst or weakness may occur. Some cases are detected by testing before clear symptoms develop.
Causes
Changes in plasma cells allow abnormal growth, usually without an identifiable individual cause. Monoclonal gammopathy or smoldering myeloma may precede active disease.
Risk factors
Increasing age, some family histories and preceding monoclonal gammopathy increase risk. Not every monoclonal protein progresses to cancer; test findings and their changes guide follow-up.
Diagnosis
Evaluation includes blood and urine proteins, free light chains, kidney function and calcium, together with marrow examination and appropriate imaging. Combined findings establish activity and risk.
Treatment
Active disease requires specialist-selected drug combinations; autologous stem cell transplantation suits some patients. Bone protection, pain and infection care are added. Some smoldering cases need structured monitoring.
Complications
Fractures, spinal cord compression, kidney failure, high calcium, anemia and infections can develop. Long-term monitoring is often needed, with treatment changes if disease relapses.
Prevention
There is no guaranteed prevention. Follow abnormal-protein monitoring advice and discuss pain-medicine and supplement safety for kidney protection. Do not begin bone medicines or calcium without assessment.
When to see a doctor
Persistent bone pain or recurrent infections needs review. New leg weakness, sensory loss or bladder or bowel dysfunction is an emergency; confusion, severe dehydration or reduced urine requires urgent care.