Pancytopenia in Multiple Myeloma- An Enigma: Our Experience from Tertiary Care Hospital

Multiple myeloma is a plasma cell neoplasm that is characterized by clonal proliferation of malignant plasma cell in the bone marrow along with M-protein in the serum and/or urine. Pancytopenia as a initial presentation of multiple myeloma is quite unusual. We are presenting a case series having pancytopenia as the presenting complaint.

A retrospective study was conducted for a period of 30 months, wherein all the cases of multiple myeloma presenting with pancytopenia were included. The complete blood picture, peripheral smear examination, bone marrow aspirate & protein electrophoresis of all the cases were reviewed & analysed.

During the study period, 10 cases presented with pancytopenia with a mean age of 66.3 years (range: 59-72 years) at presentation with male: female ratio being 8:2. Fatigue and weakness was the most common symptom (100%) & average ESR was 104 mm/hour. High-resolution serum electrophoresis, showed a dense, sharp to wide M band in the gamma globulin region. Bone marrow plasma cell percentage was increased with an average of 63.1%. Bone marrow biopsy correlation was obtained in 100% cases.

Diagnosing multiple myeloma, presenting as pancytopenia requires a high degree of suspicion to avoid delay in initiation of treatment.