Multiple myeloma and deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary thromboembolism - incidence and risk factors

Introduction. Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary thromboembolism are among the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. They are common and serious complications that are affected by various risk factors. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of thromboembolic complications and their association with risk factors in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Material and Methods. A retrospective study included 32 patients and the following variables were collected: age, C-reactive protein, beta-2 microglobulin, hemoglobin, platelets, total proteins, nephrotic syndrome, fibrinogen, D-dimer, albumin, lactate dehydrogenase, creatinine, calcium, gender, performance status, type of multiple myeloma, clinical stage, and applied therapy. All variables were compared between two groups of patients: group with thromboembolic complications (deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary thromboembolism), and the group without these complications. Results. The study sample included 18 men and 14 women. The patients? age ranged from 36 to 73 years. Of the 32 patients, 6 had deep venous thrombosis of the lower extremities, and 2 patients had deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary thromboembolism. The only two biomarkers that showed an association with venous thromboembolism in our patients with myeloma were elevated levels of C-reactive protein and D-dimer. Conclusion. The incidence of thromboembolic complications in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma was 25%. When making the diagnosis of myeloma, risk factors that were significantly associated with venous thromboembolism were elevated levels of C-reactive protein and D-dimer. The occurrence of venous thromboembolism in patients with multiple myeloma was not associated with significantly higher mortality compared to patients without venous thromboembolism.