MedifocusHealth

Many patients in the early stages of multiple myeloma (MM) often do not exhibit any symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they may be vague and similar to symptoms caused by a variety of conditions.

Some of the more common symptoms of multiple myeloma include:

• Kidney damage - due to excess of protein in blood and urine as well as increased levels of blood calcium (hypercalcemia). Some of the symptoms of kidney damage may include:

  • loss of appetite
  • fatigue and muscle weakness
  • increased frequency of urination
  • increased thirst
  • nausea and vomiting

• Bone pain - This is one of the early symptoms of multiple myeloma:

  • pain in lower back or ribs
  • caused by tiny bone fractures due to the accumulation of plasma cells in the bone

• Anemia - low levels of red blood cells. This can cause fatigue and extreme tiredness due to lower oxygen levels in blood. Approximately 70% of multiple myeloma patients have anemia at the time of diagnosis.

• Recurrent infections - due to a decrease in the level of normal antibodies and decreased number of normal white blood cells that are important in fighting infections. Some of the more common recurring infections include pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and shingles.

Less frequently occurring symptoms in multiple myeloma patients include:

• Hyperviscosity syndrome - high protein levels in the blood cause the blood to be hyperviscous (excessively thick). Symptoms may include:

  • shortness of breath
  • chest pain

• Pain and numbness in fingers and toes especially in cold weather. This is due to a condition called cryoglobulinemia (abnormal levels of cryoglobulins in the blood plasma).

• Amyloidosis - a condition where amyloid proteins are produced and deposited in various tissues and organs. Symptoms may include:

  • hypotension (low blood pressure)
  • kidney failure
  • congestive heart failure
  • liver damage