Multiple myeloma: a descriptive study of 217 Egyptian patients.

Multiple myeloma is a neoplasm of plasma cells that results in the overproduction of light and heavy chain monoclonal immunoglobulins. The incidence rate increases with age, particularly after 40 years, and is higher in men. To determine the clinical and laboratory characteristics and survival of diagnosed Egyptian multiple myeloma patients admitted to the Haemato-Oncology Department between 2000 and 2010. Records of all patients in whom multiple myeloma was diagnosed at the Kasr Al Aini Hospital between 2000 and 2010 were included in this retrospective study. The mean age of patients was 58.5 years (range, 27-80 years). Fifty-nine percent were males. The majority of patients (73 %) had an immunoglobulin G monoclonal band and 70 % were Kappa chain-positive. Mean overall survival was 37.5 months (range, 1-84 months). Survival analysis was statistically insignificant with respect to age, sex, International Staging System and type of treatment (p > 0.05). Our records were largely comparable to those reported in Chinese studies but different from those noted in Western and Arabic countries.