A multi-centers clinical study of different treatment outcomes of 332 patients with multiple myeloma]

To describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with the diagnosis of multiple myeloma (MM) and to analyse the outcome of different regimens for the treatment of MM.The study reviewed 332 MM cases diagnosed within the period from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2002. These patients were tracked via their records to a total period of three years.First-line treatment: Totally 332 patients were included, among them 325 (97.9%) patients received chemotherapy and 7 (2.1%) patients received stem cell transplantation (SCT); Second-line treatment: 197 patients were included, among them 190 (96.5%) patients received chemotherapy and 7 (3.6%) patients received SCT; Third-line treatment: 92 patients were included,among them 88 (95.7%) patients received chemotherapy and 4 (4.4%) patients received SCT. Major adverse effects were follows: severe infection 19.3%, severe anaemia 19.3%, phlebothrombosis 1.2% , thrombocytopenia 16.9%, fever associated with neutropenia 18.1%.Some curative effects can be achieved by using traditional treatment plans to treat patients suffering from MM, but new methods are expected to improve the prognosis.