Multiple myeloma in two young postpartum women

Multiple myeloma is an uncommon disease before age 30 years. We recently encountered two cases of myeloma in women, aged 29 and 30 years, respectively. Aside from their young age, another unusual feature of these cases was that each woman had been pregnant and had a normal delivery, three and four months prior to diagnosis. A literature search revealed only 35 reported cases of multiple myeloma at or before the age of 30 years. Of these, only 14 were thought to be clear-cut or highly suggestive of myeloma by the authors. The relationship of multiple myeloma and pregnancy is discussed. Although the number of cases is small, the occurrence of myeloma in the younger individual does not appear to impart a worse prognosis or survival.