[Neurologic complications of multiple myeloma]

The investigation was concerned with concomitant nervous disorders involved in multiple myeloma (MM) and evaluation of the role of neurologic symptoms in primary diagnosis of myeloma. The study included 37 patients in most of whom pain was the first syndrome of MM as well as various neurologic symptoms. The latter were caused by compression of the reticular cells of the roots of spinal nerves, separate nerves and cerebral and spinal cord tissue by malignant infiltrates. Pronounced and moderate changes in the bioelectrical activity of the cerebral cortex were identified by electroencephalography in 14 patients. Brain compression by direct contact or due to metastasis formation was shown to be mostly responsible for said differences which was confirmed by X-ray examination of skull bones and pathological liquor studies. The brain appeared to be particularly susceptible to that pathology in those patients who had not received special therapy for a long time. Among other factors were paraproteinemia and uremia-related intoxication. Early diagnosis of neurologic complications in MM is absolutely key in selecting adequate therapy.