Multiple myeloma: 2 case reports

Abstract

This is a report of multiple myeloma in first cousins from the Niger delta region of Nigeria.The first patient was a 60-year-old Negroid male with a 3-month history of productive cough, chest pain, fever and 1 month history of weight loss. The diagnosis was confirmed by greater than 50% neoplastic plasma cells in the bone marrow, monoclonal band on electrophoresis and lytic bone lesions in the skull. He was treated with cyclophosphamide, prednisolone and allopurinol and received a total of 4 pints of packed cells. His PCV improved subsequently.The second patient was a 54-year-old Negroid housewife. She presented with a six-month history of bone pains and weakness in both lower limbs. She also had cough productive of mucoid sputum. The diagnosis of MM was confirmed by the presence of more than 30 % neoplastic plasma cells in the bone marrow, a monoclonal band on serum electrophoresis and lytic lesions in the pelvic bones on skeletal survey. She had three 28-day cycles of vincristine, adriamycin and dexamethasone (VAD). She was also transfused with 3 pints of packed cells. We conclude that while we cannot rule out the effect of environmental factors in pathogenesis of MM in our patients, the occurrence of MM in first cousins is suggestive of a possible familial origin. We advocate screening of urine for Bence Jones protein and serum electrophoresis for relatives of patients with MM, especially those from the Niger Delta region.

Keywords: multiple myeloma, first cousins, Niger-Delta, Nigeria

Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol. 5(1) 2006: 110-113