Table 3.

Abnormal Blood Tests in the 2-Year Period before the Diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma among 110 Cases

TestPatients Tested, nPatients with Abnormal Results, n (%)*
Hemoglobin10068 (68)
Calcium8514 (17)
ESR6856 (82)
Albumin8011 (14)
Total protein8132 (39)
Creatinine9226 (28)
Proteinuria7631 (41)
Uric acid8330 (36)
  • * Abnormal results: hemoglobin <12.3 for women and <13.5 g/dL for men; calcium >10.2 mg/dL; erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) >20 in the first hour; albumin <3.4 g/dL; total protein >8.7 g/dL; creatinine >1.1 for women and >1.2 mg/dL for men; proteinuria >10 mg/dL; uric acid >5.7 mg/dL.

  • ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate.