Multiple myeloma complicated by restrictive cardiomyopathy and cardiac tamponade

Restrictive cardiomyopathy from amyloid deposition within the myocardium is a well-described complication of multiple myeloma; however, myelomatous involvement of pericardium with subsequent cardiac tamponade has rarely been described. Optimal treatment for malignant involvement of the pericardium by myeloma cells has yet to be established. The following description is of a patient with myocardial and pericardial manifestations of multiple myeloma. Treatment of the malignant pericardial effusion was implemented with intrapericardial administration of bleomycin. This therapy resulted in no recurrence of pericardial effusion at nine days follow-up. Despite the absence of detectable recurrent effusion, the patient died suddenly from causes felt unrelated to pericardial disease.