What causes myeloma? Causes of Myeloma

Myeloma was not a common disease in the past, but its incidence has gradually increased in recent years. The cause of myeloma is generally due to the malignant transformation of the body's own cells, but it may also be caused by industrial radiation or infection.

Myeloma is a progressive neoplastic disease characterized by excessive proliferation of bone marrow plasma cells and an intact monoclonal immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, IgD or IgE) or Bence Jones protein (free monoclonal kappa or gamma light chain).

Multiple myeloma is often accompanied by multiple osteolytic lesions, hypercalcemia, anemia, kidney damage, increased susceptibility to bacterial infections, and suppressed production of normal immunoglobulins. The incidence rate is estimated to be 2-3/100,000, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.6:1, and most patients are >40 years old. The incidence of black patients is twice that of white patients. The cause of myeloma is unknown. However, the herpes virus associated with Kaposi's sarcoma was found in the dendritic cells cultured from myeloma patients, suggesting that there is a certain connection between the two.

The virus encodes a homolog of interleukin-6 (IL-6). Human IL-6 can promote myeloma growth and stimulate bone resorption. The origin of this special cell type is still unclear, but analysis of immunoglobulin gene sequences and cell surface markers suggests that it is derived from malignant transformation of post-germinal center cells.

Possible causes include ionizing radiation, exposure to industrial or agricultural toxins, chronic infection, chronic antigen stimulation, genetics, and cytokines such as IL-6. The incidence and mortality of myeloma have increased among survivors of the atomic bomb explosion in Japan. This disease can occur on the basis of chronic osteomyelitis, pyelonephritis, tuberculosis, chronic hepatitis, and autoimmune diseases, because long-term chronic infection can manifest as lymphoreticular hyperplasia, autoimmune reaction and hypergammaglobulinemia.