Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 21, 2026
Establishment of a Human Multiple Myeloma Xenograft Model in the Chicken to Study Tumor Growth, Invasion and Angiogenesis
Published on: May 1, 2015
Multiple myeloma and infections: a population-based study on 9253 multiple myeloma patients
Cecilie Blimark1, Erik Holmberg2, Ulf-Henrik Mellqvist3
1Department of Hematology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Department of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden cecilie.blimark@vgregion.se.
Abstract:
Infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with multiple myeloma. To estimate the risk of bacterial and viral infections in multiple myeloma patients, we used population-based data from Sweden to identify all multiple myeloma patients (n=9253) diagnosed from 1988 to 2004 with follow up to 2007 and 34,931 matched controls. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the risk of infections. Overall, multiple myeloma patients had a 7-fold (hazard ratio =7.1; 95% confidence interval = 6.8-7.4) risk of developing any infection compared to matched controls. The increased risk of developing a bacterial infection was 7-fold (7.1; 6.8-7.4), and for viral infections 10-fold (10.0; 8.9-11.4). Multiple myeloma patients diagnosed in the more recent calendar periods had significantly higher risk of infections compared to controls (P<0.001). At one year of follow up, infection was the underlying cause in 22% of deaths in multiple myeloma patients. Mortality due to infections remained constant during the study period. Our findings confirm that infections represent a major threat to multiple myeloma patients. The effect on infectious complications due to novel drugs introduced in the treatment of multiple myeloma needs to be established and trials on prophylactic measures are needed.
Insights
Multiple myeloma patients face a significantly higher risk of bacterial and viral infections, increasing morbidity and mortality. Further research is needed to understand the impact of new treatments on infection risk.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Infections are a primary cause of illness and death in multiple myeloma patients.
- Understanding infection risk is crucial for managing multiple myeloma patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the risk of bacterial and viral infections in multiple myeloma patients.
- To analyze infection risk trends over time and their impact on mortality.
Main Methods:
- Population-based cohort study using Swedish registry data (1988-2007).
- Inclusion of 9,253 multiple myeloma patients and 34,931 matched controls.
- Utilized Cox proportional hazard models to assess infection risk.
Main Results:
- Multiple myeloma patients had a 7-fold increased risk of any infection (HR=7.1).
- Bacterial infection risk was 7-fold higher, and viral infection risk was 10-fold higher.
- Patients diagnosed in recent periods showed a significantly higher infection risk; infections caused 22% of deaths within one year.
Conclusions:
- Infections pose a substantial threat to multiple myeloma patients.
- The impact of novel therapeutic agents on infectious complications requires investigation.
- Clinical trials for prophylactic measures against infections are warranted.
More Related Videos
09:41An Organotypic High Throughput System for Characterization of Drug Sensitivity of Primary Multiple Myeloma Cells
Published on: July 15, 2015
05:32Multimodal Bioluminescent and Positronic-emission Tomography/Computational Tomography Imaging of Multiple Myeloma Bone Marrow Xenografts in NOG Mice
Published on: January 7, 2019