A rare entity in multiple myeloma: six nerve paralysis

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neurology
• Hematology

Background:

• Multiple myeloma (MM) rarely presents with ophthalmic complications.
• Ophthalmic findings in MM are typically secondary to disease progression or treatment side effects.

Observation:

• A 50-year-old male patient with MM developed sixth nerve paralysis.
• The patient was undergoing treatment with bortezomib, a proteasome inhibitor used for MM.

Findings:

• Bortezomib is known to have neurotoxic effects, potentially leading to nerve damage.
• The occurrence of sixth nerve paralysis in this context suggests a possible link to bortezomib treatment.

Implications:

• This case underscores the importance of monitoring for neurological and ophthalmic side effects during bortezomib therapy for MM.
• Further investigation into the neurotoxic mechanisms of bortezomib is warranted to prevent such complications.