Abstract
During the period from 1950 to 1952, three patients were studied by electrophoresis according to Tiselius on account of anticomplementary activity at WR; the presence of an M-component was demonstrated. On several later occasions it was observed that this component at first seemed to remain unchanged, later it was slightly increased; repeated examinations did not give evidence of multiple myeloma. At intervals ranging from 15 to 24 years after the primary demonstration of the M-component, all three patients presented with symptoms of multiple myeloma and died within less than one year after the disease had been diagnosed. The following conclusions are drawn:
(1) The preclinical phase of multiple myeloma may cover up to 24 years.
(2) A presence of multiple myeloma cannot be precluded, even after follow-up throughout 24 years, in cases of the so-called “benign monoclonal gammopathy”.
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Nørgaard, O. Three Cases of Multiple Myeloma in which the Preclinical Asymptomatic Phases Persisted Throughout 15 to 24 Years. Br J Cancer 25, 417–422 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1971.53
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1971.53
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