Table 1

Diagnostic criteria for plasma cell disorders

Disorder/criteriaComment
Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance All 3 criteria must be met 
    Serum monoclonal protein < 3 g/dL  
    Clonal bone marrow plasma cells < 10%  
    Absence of end-organ damage, such as hypercalcemia, renal insufficiency, anemia, and bone lesions, which can be attributed to the plasma cell proliferative disorder  
Smoldering multiple myeloma (asymptomatic multiple myeloma) Both criteria must be met 
    Serum monoclonal protein (IgG or IgA) ≥ 3 g/dL and/or clonal bone marrow plasma cells ≥ 10%  
    Absence of end-organ damage, such as lytic bone lesions, anemia, hypercalcemia, or renal failure, which can be attributed to a plasma cell proliferative disorder  
Symptomatic multiple myeloma All 3 criteria must be met except as noted 
    Clonal bone marrow plasma cells ≥ 10%  
    Presence of serum and/or urinary monoclonal protein (except in patients with nonsecretory multiple myeloma)*  
    Evidence of end-organ damage, which can be attributed to the underlying plasma cell proliferative disorder, specifically  
        Hypercalcemia: serum calcium ≥ 11.5 mg/dL  
        Renal insufficiency: serum creatinine > 2 mg/dL  
        Anemia: normochromic, normocytic with a hemoglobin value of > 2 g/dL below the lower limit of normal, or a hemoglobin value < 10 g/dL  
        Bone lesions: lytic lesions, severe osteopenia, or pathologic fractures  
Disorder/criteriaComment
Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance All 3 criteria must be met 
    Serum monoclonal protein < 3 g/dL  
    Clonal bone marrow plasma cells < 10%  
    Absence of end-organ damage, such as hypercalcemia, renal insufficiency, anemia, and bone lesions, which can be attributed to the plasma cell proliferative disorder  
Smoldering multiple myeloma (asymptomatic multiple myeloma) Both criteria must be met 
    Serum monoclonal protein (IgG or IgA) ≥ 3 g/dL and/or clonal bone marrow plasma cells ≥ 10%  
    Absence of end-organ damage, such as lytic bone lesions, anemia, hypercalcemia, or renal failure, which can be attributed to a plasma cell proliferative disorder  
Symptomatic multiple myeloma All 3 criteria must be met except as noted 
    Clonal bone marrow plasma cells ≥ 10%  
    Presence of serum and/or urinary monoclonal protein (except in patients with nonsecretory multiple myeloma)*  
    Evidence of end-organ damage, which can be attributed to the underlying plasma cell proliferative disorder, specifically  
        Hypercalcemia: serum calcium ≥ 11.5 mg/dL  
        Renal insufficiency: serum creatinine > 2 mg/dL  
        Anemia: normochromic, normocytic with a hemoglobin value of > 2 g/dL below the lower limit of normal, or a hemoglobin value < 10 g/dL  
        Bone lesions: lytic lesions, severe osteopenia, or pathologic fractures  
*

More than 10% clonal plasma cells are required for the diagnosis of nonsecretory myeloma.

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