The Occurence of multiple myeloma at Dr George Mukhari Hospital, Gauteng: a retrospective review (2004-2009)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a rare age-related disorder with

increasing incidence with advancing age. It is a B-cell malignancy characterised by

monoclonal expression and accumulation of abnormal plasma cells in the bone marrow.

It comprises about 1 % of all malignant tumours worldwide and 10% of haemopoietic

neoplasms. MM accounted for 0.43% of newly diagnosed malignancies in South Africa

in 1999 and Visser et al (2009), found the incidence to be 0.00054%. Mwambakana in

2000 at Ga-Rankuwa Hospital, now known as Dr George Mukhari Hospital (DGMH),

found MM to be the commonest haematological malignancy.

No clear risk factors have been identified in this disease. The natural history of MM is

one of progressive bone destruction, refractory cytopenias and end-organ damage. The

diagnosis and staging of MM is based on different criteria and systems.

OBJECTIVES: To establish a profile of patients diagnosed with MM at DGMH from 1

January 2004 to 31 December 2009.

METHODS: We conducted a descriptive retrospective review of medical records of

patients diagnosed and treated for MM at DGMH from 2004-2009.

RESULTS: Thirty-four patients' records were found. MM was found to be present in

these patients as early as the third decade, more females than males were diagnosed and

females were surviving longer than their male counterparts. Clinical features were not

significantly different from those previously reported. The WHO 2001 diagnostic

criteria created by Durie & Salmon and the International Staging System were used

more frequently and most patients presented at an advanced stage of the disease.