Risk of progression in smouldering myeloma and monoclonal gammopathies of unknown significance: comparative analysis of the evolution of monoclonal component and multiparameter flow cytometry of bone marrow plasma cells: Short Report

P>The present study explored the impact of two novel criteria; having > 95% abnormal plasma cells by flow cytometry at diagnosis and the evolving subtype of the disease, as predictors of progression in 61 smouldering multiple myeloma (SMM) and 311 monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS) patients. Although both criteria were of prognostic value, the risk of progression was better identified by immunophenotyping [Hazard Ratio (HR) 6 center dot 2 and 17 center dot 2 for SMM and MGUS, respectively] than evolving subtype, which had independent prognostic value only in MGUS (HR 3 center dot 6). Immunophenotyping discriminated the different risk of progression within the evolving and non-evolving subgroups of SMM (P = 0 center dot 01) and MGUS (P < 0 center dot 001).