1Senior Resident, Department of Gastroenterology, Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana, India
2Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana, India
3Assistant Professor, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana, India
4Professor, Department of Medicine, Dayanand Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana, India
5Director and Head, Department of Medical Oncology, Fortis, Ludhiana, India
Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell malignancy characterized by heterogeneous clinical presentation and variable disease burden at diagnosis. Patterns of presentation may differ across healthcare settings, particularly where referral delays and resource constraints influence stage at detection. This study aimed to describe the baseline clinical and molecular characteristics of newly diagnosed MM patients at a tertiary care centre and evaluate their association with Revised International Staging System (R-ISS) stage.
Methods: This prospective observational study included 62 patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma evaluated over a one-year period at a tertiary care centre in North India. Diagnosis and staging were performed using the Revised International Myeloma Working Group criteria and the Revised International Staging System (R-ISS). Clinical features, laboratory parameters, imaging findings, bone marrow characteristics, and cytogenetic abnormalities detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization were analyzed. Associations between baseline variables and disease stage were assessed using chi-square and fisher's tests.
Results: The median age was 62 years (range: 35–75), and 36/62 (58.1%) patients were male. Stage II and stage III disease were observed in 28/62 (45.2%) and 34/62 (54.8%) patients, respectively; no patients presented with stage I disease. Severe anemia (24/62, 38.7%), hypoalbuminemia (35/62, 56.5%), elevated beta-2 microglobulin (49/62, 79%), and elevated LDH (42/62, 67.7%) were significantly associated with stage III disease (p≤0.001). Cytogenetic abnormalities were detected in 33/62 (53.3%), including high-risk abnormalities in 20/62 (32.3%).
Conclusion: In this single-centre cohort, most patients presented with R-ISS stage II–III disease and significant biochemical abnormalities. Hemoglobin, serum albumin, beta-2 microglobulin, and LDH were significantly associated with advanced stage. These routinely available parameters may support initial risk assessment at diagnosis, particularly in settings where access to comprehensive molecular testing is limited.
Keywords: multiple myeloma; Revised International Staging System; beta-2 microglobulin; lactate dehydrogenase; anemia.
How to cite this article: Mehta A, Bhagat M, Singh A, Dhooria HP, Paul D. Clinical Profile of Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma: A Single-Centre Descriptive Study. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(6s): 497-506; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.6s.74
Source of support: None
Conflict of interest: None