Multiple Myeloma - Not An Uncommon Disease

A prospective study including 25 cases of multiple myeloma, 15 male and 10 female, was conducted in Medical C unit of Hayat Shaheed Hospital, Peshawar over years 1986 through 1989. All the patients were admitted to the hospital with one or the other clinical presentation of multiple myeloma: progressive anaemia, renal failure, repeated infection, pathologic fracture, cord compression, severe generalized bone pains, bleeding diathesis and neurologic syndromes. Diagnosis was when reached at by taking meticulous clinical history, methodical clinical examination and specific laboratory investigations. A proper Staging procedure was next applied to stage all the patients using clinical and laboratory criteria. Management was carried out according to the stage of the disease, and proper follow-up record kept in all those who turned out for follow-up. It was found that patients treated with high dose intermittent chemotherapy adhered to more regular follow-ups and had better survival results than those on low dose conventional chemotherapy.