Pleural effusion and multiple myeloma - more than meets the eye: A case report

Multiple myeloma (MM) accounts for 1% of all cancers. It consists of malignant proliferation of plasma cells, which is often associated with hypersecretion of a monoclonal protein. Pleural effusion (PE) in MM is not an uncommon finding, comprising about 6-14% of patients with MM. The most common causes of MM-associated PE are congestive heart failure, renal failure, parapneumonic effusion and amyloidosis. In <1% of cases, the effusion is a direct result of MM, designated as myelomatous PE (MPE). MPE is usually a diagnosis of exclusion and carries a poor prognosis. Therefore, efforts should be made to optimally detect MPE. The present report describes an MPE associated with IgG/λ MM presenting as a septic shock and renal failure in which a rare diagnosis was made after excluding all other possible etiologies in a complex intensive care patient.