Table 4.

Comparison of Clinical Features of 79 Multiple Myeloma Cases and 79 Age-, Sex-, and Regionally Matched Controls

Visits, Mean ± SDP Value
PatientsControls
Main complaint
    Back pain2.7 ± 4.12.9 ± 4.4.81
    Nonspecific pain1.2 ± 3.80.7 ± 1.4.28
    >1 Pain complaint0.6 ± 1.40.3 ± 0.8.11
    Viral infection1.4 ± 1.91.6 ± 2.4.59
    Bacterial infection1.2 ± 2.41.3 ± 1.8.81
    Weight loss/fatigue0.7 ± 1.50.1 ± 0.4.001
    Other nonspecific complaints0.7 ± 1.40.4 ± 0.5.05
    Abnormal laboratory test*0.7 ± 1.40.1 ± 0.6.001
Abnormal Results, n
PatientsControls
Laboratory tests
    Anemia (n = 64)4417.001
    Elevated ESR (n = 20)164.001
    Renal failure (n = 63)227.001
    Proteinuria (n = 38)195.002
    Hypercalcemia (n = 42)80.005
    High total protein (n = 35)140<.001
    Hypoalbuminemia (n = 33)51.2
    Hyperuricemia(n = 45)1517.8
  • * Anemia = hemoglobin <12.3 g/dL for women and <13.5 g/dL for men; elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) >20 in the first hour; renal failure = creatinine >1.1 mg/dL for women and >1.2 mg/dL for men; proteinuria = >10 mg/dL; hypercalcemia = calcium >10.2 mg/dL; high total protein = >8.7 g/dL; hypoalbuminemia = albumin <3.4 g/dL; hyperuricemia = uric acid >5.7 mg/dL.

  • ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; SD, standard deviation.