What are the clinical symptoms of myeloma?

The emergence of myeloma is actually accompanied by some obvious symptoms, depending on whether the patient discovers its presence in time. The clinical symptoms of myeloma are obvious, so it is helpful for patients to detect the disease. Let us learn about it together.

Myeloma is a multiple malignant bone marrow tumor that occurs in middle-aged and late-life (40 to 60 years old). The vertebrae, ribs, sternum, skull and pelvis are the most common sites for the disease. In advanced stages, the femur and humerus may also be affected, but bones below the knee and elbow rarely occur. The main symptom is pain, which is intermittent at first and then becomes continuous and very severe. Nerves may be compressed, causing radiating pain or paraplegia. Once the tumor is discovered, most patients gradually develop progressive anemia and cachexia. However, metastases rarely occur and the lungs are rarely involved.

The main symptom of myeloma is persistent spinal pain that progressively worsens. In cases where multiple episodes occur, the pain covers a wide area. About 40% to 50% of patients have pathological fractures. Paraplegia and nerve root compression symptoms are likely to occur.

There is generally progressive anemia and a significantly increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Some patients have elevated serum calcium, often accompanied by secondary hyperparathyroidism. Increased serum total protein. Globulin increased, albumin decreased or normal. Serum protein electrophoresis mostly shows abnormal immunoglobulin peaks. Urine protein is often positive, but the positive rate of Bence Jones protein is not high, about 30% to 60%. At the same time, calcium oxalate crystals and alkaline phosphates increase in urine. Bone marrow smear showed hyperplastic bone marrow, with plasma cells accounting for at least 8% of nuclear cells.

Myeloma has a symptom-free period of varying length. In a small number of patients, back pain is the first symptom, accompanied by anemia and cachexia. Some patients also come for treatment due to pathological fractures.