Associations Between Serum Vitamin D Level and Skeletal Complications in Multiple Myeloma Patients

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Vitamin D deficiency can either cause or aggravate osteopenia and osteoporosis, and that can lead to an increased risk of fracture. We studied associations between serum vitamin D level and skeletal complications including bone pain in multiple myeloma patients. METHODS: This study reviewed the medical records of 35 multiple myeloma patients in Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital from January, 2013 to May, 2014. The patients were classified as three groups according to the total vitamin D level above 20 ng/mL as sufficient group, from 10 to 20 ng/mL as insufficient group, and below 10 ng/mL as deficient group. RESULTS: The incidence of fracture complication, the number of fracture, and the number of the cases of severe fracture that needed surgical intervention did not show statically significant difference in the three groups according to the total vitamin D level. As the results presented as graphs, the number of indicator of skeletal complications and total vitamin D level showed negative relationship. In the logistic regression analysis, analgesic use due to bone pain and the number of total analgesic use were significantly different in three groups (P=0.036, P=0.041), respectively, and showed a negative correlation between the level of vitamin D and number of analgesics had negative correlation. CONCLUSION: The measurement of serum total vitamin D level at the initial diagnosis in multiple myeloma patients and the proper treatment in the deficient patients would reduce the skeletal complications and moreover improve the quality of life.