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New England Journal of Medicine

Conclusions The risk of progression from smoldering multiple myeloma to symptomatic disease is related to the proportion of bone marrow plasma cells and the serum monoclonal protein level at diagnosis.

ABSTRACT

Background Smoldering (asymptomatic) multiple myeloma is an asymptomatic plasma-cell proliferative disorder associated with a high risk of progression to symptomatic multiple myeloma or amyloidosis. Prognostic factors for the progression and outcome of this disease are unclear.

Researchers from the University of Arkansas have reported that the addition of Thalomid (thalidomide) to autologous stem cell transplantation does not improve survival for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. The details of this study appeared in an article recently published in the March 9, 2006 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.