The Association between Multiple Myeloma and Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Report of Two Cases

ABSTRACT

Multiple myeloma is a malignant disease of plasma cells, whereas ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of axial joints. The relationship between the two diseases is uncertain, but chronic inflammation could trigger multiple myeloma. The authors report the cases of two ankylosing spondylitis patients with a disease duration of more than 20 years, that subsequently developed IgA kappa and IgG lambda chain myeloma, respectively, and discuss the possible pathogenetic relationship between these diseases.