Letter to the Editor

Split Viewer

Blood Res 2015; 50(3):

Published online September 22, 2015

https://doi.org/10.5045/br.2015.50.3.179

© The Korean Society of Hematology

A case of simultaneous presentation of symptomatic PCM and MDS unrelated to prior chemotherapy

Hyerim Kim1, Sang Hyuk Park1,2*, Eun Yup Lee1,2, and Moo-Kon Song2,3

1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.

2Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.

3Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.

Correspondence to : Sang Hyuk Park. Department of Laboratory Medicine and Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, 179 Gudeok-ro, Seo-gu, Busan 49241, Korea. korailman-1@hanmail.net

Received: December 26, 2014; Revised: January 19, 2015; Accepted: August 11, 2015

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

As chemotherapy for the treatment of plasma cell myeloma (PCM) includes alkylating agents, the incidence of therapy-related myeloid neoplasms such as acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and myeloproliferative neoplasm due to prior PCM chemotherapy has increased. Several studies reported the mutagenic effect of some PCM treatment regimens on the development of MDS [1,2,3]. By contrast, cases with simultaneous presentation of PCM and MDS unrelated to prior chemotherapy are far less frequently observed than cases with MDS related to prior chemotherapy [4,5,6]. A recent study reported that in a period of 14 years, only 14 cases of monoclonal gammopathy and MDS unrelated to chemotherapy or radiotherapy were reported, representing 12 cases of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and 2 cases of smoldering myeloma (SM) [7]. We report a case of simultaneous presentation of symptomatic PCM and MDS unrelated to prior chemotherapy.

An 80-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of chest pain that developed 1 day prior to admission. She had been treated for bronchial asthma with a bronchodilator and leukotriene antagonist for 2 years but had no medical history related to hematologic malignancy. The patient's hemogram results at admission were as follows: white blood cell count, 0.95×109/L; hemoglobin level, 8.0 g/dL; mean corpuscular volume, 105.9 fL; and platelet count, 29.0×109/L. The patient's biochemical test results at admission were as follows: serum protein level, 6.8 g/dL; serum albumin level, 2.8 g/dL; serum creatinine level, 1.54 mg/dL; serum calcium level, 7.4 mg/dL; and serum lactate dehydrogenase level, 719 IU/L. In the examination of a peripheral blood smear, pancytopenia with rouleaux formation was observed. Bone marrow aspirates showed hypocellular marrow without an increase in the number of myeloblasts but showed increased infiltration of plasma cells at a frequency of 14.9% (Fig. 1A). In addition, megakaryocytic dysplasias such as separated nuclei (Fig. 1A) and hypolobulated nuclei (Fig. 1B and C) were found, accounting for 30% of the total number of megakaryocytes. Erythroid dysplasias such as binucleation and delayed mitosis were also found (Fig. 1C and D), as well as mild granulocytic dysplasias such as hyposegmentation, accounting for 15% and 10% of the total numbers of erythroid and granulocytic lineage cells, respectively. Examination of a bone marrow biopsy specimen (Fig. 1E) revealed 35% cellular marrow with diffuse infiltration of plasma cells in the immunohistochemical stain for CD138 expression (DAKO, Glostrup, Denmark; Fig. 1F).

Both serum and urine immunofixation analyses using Hydragel IF K20 kit (Sebia, Cedex, France) were performed, and the results showed the presence of monoclonal gammopathy of IgA and lambda type. The subsequently performed serum electrophoresis using Capillarys Protein(E) 6 kit (Sebia, France) showed the presence of monoclonal gammopathy accompanied by M-peaks of 1.27 g/dL. All radiological evaluation results did not show definite evidence of osteolytic lesion. The results of a subsequently performed karyotype analysis showed 46,XX, del(20)(q11.2)[15]/46,XX[5], indicating the presence of del(20)(q11.2) clone, at a frequency of 75%. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis results showed nuc ish(D20S108X1)[156/200], indicating the presence of heterozygous 20q12 deletion, at a frequency of 78%. As the patient showed pancytopenia accompanied with multilineage dysplasia, MDS-related chromosomal abnormality, and monoclonal gammopathy with an increase in serum creatinine level, she was finally diagnosed with the simultaneous presentation of symptomatic PCM and MDS and refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia (RCMD) that were unrelated to prior chemotherapy. After the diagnosis, she developed gram-negative septicemia and died 8 days after the admission.

Our case had similar features regarding the type of MDS-related chromosomal abnormality as those of cases reported in previous studies. Most MDS cases accompanied by MGUS/SM showed a low risk of chromosomal abnormalities, and our case also showed del(20)(q11.2), which is a well-known chromosomal abnormality related to good prognosis in MDS [7]. In addition, our case did not show any history of prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy, which supports the occurrence of simultaneous MDS and symptomatic PCM. Notably, compared with previously reported cases, our case presented unique clinical features that are worth reporting [7]. Our case developed symptomatic PCM, which has not been reported yet, and showed poor prognosis.

In conclusion, we report a rare case of simultaneous presentation of symptomatic PCM and MDS RCMD unrelated to prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy. A more extensive study would be required to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes in patients with such a condition.

Fig. 1.

Bone marrow findings showing both features of plasma cell myeloma and myelodysplastic syndrome. The arrows indicate megakaryocytes with separated (A) and hypolobulated nuclei (B, C), and erythroblasts with binucleation (C, lower side) and delayed mitosis (D), respectively. Bone marrow biopsy revealed diffuse infiltration of plasma cells (E) that were CD138 positive (F).


  1. Gertz, MA, Terpos, E, Dispenzieri, A, et al. Therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome/acute leukemia after multiple myeloma in the era of novel agents. Leuk Lymphoma, 2015;56;1723-1726.
    Pubmed
  2. Pemmaraju, N, Shah, D, Kantarjian, H, et al. Characteristics and outcomes of patients with multiple myeloma who develop therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, or acute myeloid leukemia. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk, 2015;15;110-114.
    Pubmed
  3. Reddi, DM, Lu, CM, Fedoriw, G, et al. Myeloid neoplasms secondary to plasma cell myeloma: an intrinsic predisposition or therapy-related phenomenon? A clinicopathologic study of 41 cases and correlation of cytogenetic features with treatment regimens. Am J Clin Pathol, 2012;138;855-866.
    Pubmed
  4. Malhotra, J, Kremyanskaya, M, Schorr, E, Hoffman, R, Mascarenhas, J. Coexistence of myeloproliferative neoplasm and plasma-cell dyscrasia. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk, 2014;14;31-36.
    Pubmed
  5. Várkonyi, J, Jánosy, J, Gopcsa, L, et al. Myelodysplasia and multiple myeloma or monoclonal gammopathy. A non-fortuitous coexistence. Hungarian Med J, 2007;1;107-112.
  6. Tsiara, S, Economou, G, Panteli, A, Isaakidis, P, Kapsali, E, Bourantas, KL. Coexistence of myelodysplastic syndrome and multiple myeloma. J Exp Clin Cancer Res, 1999;18;565-566.
    Pubmed
  7. Yoshida, Y, Oguma, S, Ohno, H, et al. Co-occurrence of monoclonal gammopathy and myelodysplasia: a retrospective study of fourteen cases. Int J Hematol, 2014;99;721-725.
    Pubmed

Article

Letter to the Editor

Blood Res 2015; 50(3): 179-181

Published online September 22, 2015 https://doi.org/10.5045/br.2015.50.3.179

Copyright © The Korean Society of Hematology.

A case of simultaneous presentation of symptomatic PCM and MDS unrelated to prior chemotherapy

Hyerim Kim1, Sang Hyuk Park1,2*, Eun Yup Lee1,2, and Moo-Kon Song2,3

1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.

2Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.

3Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.

Correspondence to: Sang Hyuk Park. Department of Laboratory Medicine and Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, 179 Gudeok-ro, Seo-gu, Busan 49241, Korea. korailman-1@hanmail.net

Received: December 26, 2014; Revised: January 19, 2015; Accepted: August 11, 2015

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

TO THE EDITOR:

As chemotherapy for the treatment of plasma cell myeloma (PCM) includes alkylating agents, the incidence of therapy-related myeloid neoplasms such as acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and myeloproliferative neoplasm due to prior PCM chemotherapy has increased. Several studies reported the mutagenic effect of some PCM treatment regimens on the development of MDS [1,2,3]. By contrast, cases with simultaneous presentation of PCM and MDS unrelated to prior chemotherapy are far less frequently observed than cases with MDS related to prior chemotherapy [4,5,6]. A recent study reported that in a period of 14 years, only 14 cases of monoclonal gammopathy and MDS unrelated to chemotherapy or radiotherapy were reported, representing 12 cases of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and 2 cases of smoldering myeloma (SM) [7]. We report a case of simultaneous presentation of symptomatic PCM and MDS unrelated to prior chemotherapy.

CASE

An 80-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of chest pain that developed 1 day prior to admission. She had been treated for bronchial asthma with a bronchodilator and leukotriene antagonist for 2 years but had no medical history related to hematologic malignancy. The patient's hemogram results at admission were as follows: white blood cell count, 0.95×109/L; hemoglobin level, 8.0 g/dL; mean corpuscular volume, 105.9 fL; and platelet count, 29.0×109/L. The patient's biochemical test results at admission were as follows: serum protein level, 6.8 g/dL; serum albumin level, 2.8 g/dL; serum creatinine level, 1.54 mg/dL; serum calcium level, 7.4 mg/dL; and serum lactate dehydrogenase level, 719 IU/L. In the examination of a peripheral blood smear, pancytopenia with rouleaux formation was observed. Bone marrow aspirates showed hypocellular marrow without an increase in the number of myeloblasts but showed increased infiltration of plasma cells at a frequency of 14.9% (Fig. 1A). In addition, megakaryocytic dysplasias such as separated nuclei (Fig. 1A) and hypolobulated nuclei (Fig. 1B and C) were found, accounting for 30% of the total number of megakaryocytes. Erythroid dysplasias such as binucleation and delayed mitosis were also found (Fig. 1C and D), as well as mild granulocytic dysplasias such as hyposegmentation, accounting for 15% and 10% of the total numbers of erythroid and granulocytic lineage cells, respectively. Examination of a bone marrow biopsy specimen (Fig. 1E) revealed 35% cellular marrow with diffuse infiltration of plasma cells in the immunohistochemical stain for CD138 expression (DAKO, Glostrup, Denmark; Fig. 1F).

Both serum and urine immunofixation analyses using Hydragel IF K20 kit (Sebia, Cedex, France) were performed, and the results showed the presence of monoclonal gammopathy of IgA and lambda type. The subsequently performed serum electrophoresis using Capillarys Protein(E) 6 kit (Sebia, France) showed the presence of monoclonal gammopathy accompanied by M-peaks of 1.27 g/dL. All radiological evaluation results did not show definite evidence of osteolytic lesion. The results of a subsequently performed karyotype analysis showed 46,XX, del(20)(q11.2)[15]/46,XX[5], indicating the presence of del(20)(q11.2) clone, at a frequency of 75%. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis results showed nuc ish(D20S108X1)[156/200], indicating the presence of heterozygous 20q12 deletion, at a frequency of 78%. As the patient showed pancytopenia accompanied with multilineage dysplasia, MDS-related chromosomal abnormality, and monoclonal gammopathy with an increase in serum creatinine level, she was finally diagnosed with the simultaneous presentation of symptomatic PCM and MDS and refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia (RCMD) that were unrelated to prior chemotherapy. After the diagnosis, she developed gram-negative septicemia and died 8 days after the admission.

DISCUSSION

Our case had similar features regarding the type of MDS-related chromosomal abnormality as those of cases reported in previous studies. Most MDS cases accompanied by MGUS/SM showed a low risk of chromosomal abnormalities, and our case also showed del(20)(q11.2), which is a well-known chromosomal abnormality related to good prognosis in MDS [7]. In addition, our case did not show any history of prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy, which supports the occurrence of simultaneous MDS and symptomatic PCM. Notably, compared with previously reported cases, our case presented unique clinical features that are worth reporting [7]. Our case developed symptomatic PCM, which has not been reported yet, and showed poor prognosis.

In conclusion, we report a rare case of simultaneous presentation of symptomatic PCM and MDS RCMD unrelated to prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy. A more extensive study would be required to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes in patients with such a condition.

Fig 1.

Figure 1.

Bone marrow findings showing both features of plasma cell myeloma and myelodysplastic syndrome. The arrows indicate megakaryocytes with separated (A) and hypolobulated nuclei (B, C), and erythroblasts with binucleation (C, lower side) and delayed mitosis (D), respectively. Bone marrow biopsy revealed diffuse infiltration of plasma cells (E) that were CD138 positive (F).

Blood Research 2015; 50: 179-181https://doi.org/10.5045/br.2015.50.3.179

References

  1. Gertz, MA, Terpos, E, Dispenzieri, A, et al. Therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome/acute leukemia after multiple myeloma in the era of novel agents. Leuk Lymphoma, 2015;56;1723-1726.
    Pubmed
  2. Pemmaraju, N, Shah, D, Kantarjian, H, et al. Characteristics and outcomes of patients with multiple myeloma who develop therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, or acute myeloid leukemia. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk, 2015;15;110-114.
    Pubmed
  3. Reddi, DM, Lu, CM, Fedoriw, G, et al. Myeloid neoplasms secondary to plasma cell myeloma: an intrinsic predisposition or therapy-related phenomenon? A clinicopathologic study of 41 cases and correlation of cytogenetic features with treatment regimens. Am J Clin Pathol, 2012;138;855-866.
    Pubmed
  4. Malhotra, J, Kremyanskaya, M, Schorr, E, Hoffman, R, Mascarenhas, J. Coexistence of myeloproliferative neoplasm and plasma-cell dyscrasia. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk, 2014;14;31-36.
    Pubmed
  5. Várkonyi, J, Jánosy, J, Gopcsa, L, et al. Myelodysplasia and multiple myeloma or monoclonal gammopathy. A non-fortuitous coexistence. Hungarian Med J, 2007;1;107-112.
  6. Tsiara, S, Economou, G, Panteli, A, Isaakidis, P, Kapsali, E, Bourantas, KL. Coexistence of myelodysplastic syndrome and multiple myeloma. J Exp Clin Cancer Res, 1999;18;565-566.
    Pubmed
  7. Yoshida, Y, Oguma, S, Ohno, H, et al. Co-occurrence of monoclonal gammopathy and myelodysplasia: a retrospective study of fourteen cases. Int J Hematol, 2014;99;721-725.
    Pubmed
Blood Res
Volume 59 2024

Stats or Metrics

Share this article on

  • line

Blood Research

pISSN 2287-979X
eISSN 2288-0011
qr-code Download