[sydneytime51]

Father with multiple myeloma has lab result of 680

by sydneytime51 on Tue Nov 08, 2016 1:10 pm

My elderly father has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma and told that he has a figure of 680. I am going to see the consultant with him on Monday to help him understand and am doing a crash course on the subject. I suppose my first question is what is this 680 figure and is there a figure that is generally accepted as the critical point to start treatment?

Thanks in advance. Will no doubt be back with more questions when I've read more.

[Multibilly]

Re: Father with multiple myeloma has lab result of 680

by Multibilly on Tue Nov 08, 2016 4:46 pm

Hi Sydney,

Welcome to the forum. Several key blood markers are tracked and used to help diagnose multiple myeloma. A value of 680 (especially without knowing the units of measure), could be all kinds of different things - including a free light chain ratio value, a kappa or lambda free light chain value, an IgA or IgM value, etc.

If the diagnosis is indeed multiple myeloma and not smoldering multiple myeloma or MGUS, then one almost always initiates treatment at that point if that person is experiencing one or more of the CRAB criteria (hypercalcemia, renal impairment, anemia and/or bone damage) . Things are a bit more subjective regarding treatment if one has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma based on one of the of the new Myeloma Defining Events (MDEs). This might help you better understand the aforementioned:

https://myelomabeacon.org/news/2014/10/26/new-multiple-myeloma-diagnostic-criteria/