Table 1.

Baseline characteristics from diagnosis

Variable	Early SCT (n=178)	Deferred SCT (n=112)	P
Age at Diagnosis (Years)	58 (29–73)	61 (32–74)	NS
Gender (Male)	57%	66%	NS
Hemoglobin (gm/dL)	10.9 (7.9–15.9)	11.4 (8.1–14.6)	NS
Platelets (million/mm3)	140 (11–418)	154 (21–543)	NS
Calcium (mg/dL)	9.1 (7–11)	9.2 (6.8–10.7)	NS
Serum Creatinine (mg/dL)	0.9 (0.5–3.7)	1 (0.6–6.7)	NS
LDH (U/L)	228	185	< 0.001
Marrow plasma cell %	43 (2–90)	40 (1–80)	NS
ISS: Stage 1	39	45	NS
Stage 2	36	39
Stage 3	25	16
Plasma cell labeling index >= 1%	26%	28%	NS