Multiple Myeloma Uncovered Under Excessive Antacid and Chronic NSAID Use in a Young Female

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell dyscrasia in which nearly all cases are diagnosed in patients over 40 years old. This report illustrates a case of a young female who presented with severe generalized weakness, acute kidney injury, hypercalcemia, and anemia. Her symptoms were initially attributed to chronic NSAID and antacid intake, especially given her young age. However, further workup was pursued to rule out other potential diagnoses despite her age. She was ultimately diagnosed with multiple myeloma and started on bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone. This report emphasizes the importance of maintaining a broad differential diagnosis. Untrained physicians can easily overlook rare cases. Timely diagnosis and treatment are key, and therefore, a high degree of suspicion is crucial for this patient population.