Impact of bone marrow fibrosis (BMF) at diagnosis in patients with multiple myeloma (MM).
e19522 Background: BMF is known to occur in a minority of myeloma patients, but its incidence in American patients of African origin is not known. The impact of BMT on presenting clinical and laboratory findings, and its relationship to genetic variants has not been defined. Methods: Kings County Hospital is located in the East Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York, where the population is mainly of African-Caribbean origin. Records and bone marrow specimens of myeloma patients who presented from 2000 through 2010 were reviewed. Degree of fibrosis was graded according to World Health Organization criteria: mild, moderate and severe. Results: Records of 113 patients were reviewed, 110 (97%) 97 of whom were African American or Caribbean; 62 (55%) were female and 51 (45%) male. Their ages ranged from 38 to 89 (median 65). Of the 27 patients with BMF (24%), 17 (63%) were female. Mild, moderate and severe BMF were present in 14 (52%), 7 (26%) and 6 (22%) patients respectively. Presentation calcium and creatinine levels were normal in all patients. Hemoglobin levels were similar (median 9.6 G/dl) in patients without BMF and in those with mild and moderate grades, the median level was 7.5 G/dl in those with severe BMF. Immunoglobulin G, A and D levels (67, 20 and 1) were similar in patients with and without BMF, but lambda light chain expression was greater in the BMF patients: 41 vs 24%. Cytogenetic data (CGD) was available in 46 patients; and abnormal in 10 (22%). All patients with abnormalities of chromosomal number were hyperdiploid. Of the 27 BMF patients CG data was available in 17, and was abnormal in 2 (12%). FISH results were normal in 23 of 25 patients, and in all of those with BMF. The fraction of the BMF and non BMF patients surviving after median follow up periods of 828 and 885 days were similar. Conclusions: BMF in this population was 24%, and severe in 5%. Female preponderance is a characteristic of MM patients of African origin, and was more marked in those with BMF. The BMF patients were characterized by more severe anemia and greater lambda light chain expression.