Prognostic factors affecting the survival of patients with multiple myeloma A retrospective analysis of 86 patients

A retrospective analysis of data concerning 86 patients with multiple myeloma was carried out in order to evaluate factors affecting survival. The overall median survival was 621 days. In a univariate analysis the follOWing factors were significantly associated with poor survival: serum creatinine ≥ 150 mmol/l, haemoglobin < 11 g/dl and serum calcium values> 2,75 mmol/l; and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 3 - 4. However, age, sex, Durie and Salmon staging, lytic lesions, serum immunoglobulin concentration, urine Bence Jones protein, percentage of plasma cells in the bone marrow, proteinuria, and type of chemotherapy given were not significantly associated with survival. A strong prediction of survival was found by grouping the serum creatinine and haemoglobin levels of patients at presentation