Asymptomatic Myeloma Prognosis
Risk stratification of asymptomatic (smoldering) myeloma
| Risk group | Marrow plasma cells (%) | M protein level (g/L) | Median TTP (y) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low | < 10 | > 30 | 19 |
| Intermediate | ≥ 10 | < 30 | 8 |
| High | ≥ 10 | ≥ 30 | 2 |
This risk stratification system was developed from a retrospective analysis of 276 patients with asymptomatic (smoldering) myeloma diagnosed between 1970 and 1995.1 Over a median follow-up of 11.6 years, 57% of patients developed symptomatic myeloma and 2% developed amyloidosis. On multivariate analysis, only M protein level and bone marrow plasma cell percentage were associated with time to progression.
M protein: monoclonal protein (paraprotein)
TTP: time to progression