MM is a presently difficult-to-cure plasma cell malignancy that accumulates in the bone marrow (BM) and is clinically preceded by the asymptomatic plasma cell dyscrasias (PCD) known as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), smoldering MM (SMM), which are distinguished from MM based on the lack of end-organ damage. MGUS occurs in 3% of the general population over the age of 50 and is typically detected. Individual with MGUS do not have any signs or symptoms. However, the risk of MGUS progressing to MM increases by ~1% each year. SMM is an intermediate stage between MGUS and MM with a higher risk of progression to MM, especially during the first five years. The clinical symptoms of MM include calcium dysregulation, renal dysfunction, anemia, and bone lesions (CRAB).
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