RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Accessibility to innovative multiple myeloma therapies is limited in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to describe the diagnostic and evolutionary features observed during treatment of our patients with myeloma. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, descriptive, analytical study (2005 - 2016) of patients with myeloma included in the study based on International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) Criteria (2003,2014) at the Hopital Aristide Le Dantec (Senegal). RESULTS: We collected data from 136 medical records (69 men, 67 women) of patients with an average age of 59 years ± 10.1 years, who were less than 65 years of age in 69.1% of cases. Tell-tale signs included bone pain (96.3%), renal failure (36.8%), infection (23.5%), pathological fracture (17.6%), spinal cord compression (16.9%) and malignant hypercalcaemia (16.2%). Isotopic antiglobulin test showed that anti-IgG could be detected in 61.3% of cases and Kappa in 65% of cases. Patients were classified stage III (59.4%) and I-II (40.6%)of the index staging system. The median survival of patients under conventional traitement (Méphalan-Prédnisone: 67.6%, innovative: 5.9%) was 20 months (1-78 months). Survival rates are better in the absence of neurological and infectious complications and for patients with score I-II of the index Staging System. CONCLUSION: In our study, multiple myeloma was frequently diagnosed before age 65, at advanced stage of tumor mass. Early detection and access to adequate therapies could improve overall survival.
