Table 2. Characteristics of the study population.
| Asymptomatic myeloma | Symptomatic myeloma | P value Univariate analysis | Odds ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background data | ||||
| Sex | 0.8335 | |||
| Male | 5 | 10 | ||
| Female | 6 | 14 | ||
| Age (years) | 66.5 ± 8.9 | 62.1 ± 11.2 | 0.26 | |
| Laboratory data | ||||
| Serum creatinine (mg/dl) | 0.85 ± 0.55 | 1.42 ± 1.52 | 0.06 | 4.44 (0.93, 21.22) |
| Hemoglobin (g/dl) | 12.0 ± 1.26 | 9.76 ± 2.52 | 0.001 | 38 (3.89, 371.3) |
| Serum calcium (mEq/l) | 4.53 ± 0.14 | 4.68 ± 0.59 | 0.41 | 5.33 (1.10, 25.77) |
| Serum M protein (mg/dl) | 2858 ± 1465 | 3868 ± 2458 | 0.89 | 3.72 (0.79, 17.68) |
| M protein | 0.395 | |||
| IgG | 9 | 22 | ||
| IgA | 2 | 2 | ||
| Uninvolved Igs | 0.225 | |||
| 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1 | 3 | 4 | ||
| 2 | 7 | 20 | ||
| Albumin (g/dl) | 3.70 ± 0.59 | 3.75 ± 1.31 | 0.90 | 2.07 (0.48, 8.97) |
| β2-microglobulin (mg/l) | 2.50 ± 1.30 | 7.15 ± 6.62 | 0.003 | 24.3 (2.60, 227.2) |
| Kappa/lambda ratio | 0.070 | |||
| 0.125–8 | 5 | 4 | ||
| ≤0.125 or ≥8 | 6 | 20 | ||
| MRI data | ||||
| MR infiltration pattern | 0.04 | |||
| Normal | 5 | 3 | ||
| Focal | 0 | 3 | ||
| Salt and pepper | 4 | 0 | ||
| Focal and diffuse | 0 | 5 | ||
| Diffuse | 3 | 12 | ||
| Fat-signal fraction | 70.9 ± 8.3 | 47.0 ± 22.0 | 0.00006 | 9.00 (1.56, 51.87) |
| BM biopsy | ||||
| BMPC% | 17.2 ± 9.0 | 37.0 ± 25.3 | 0.002 | 7.00 (1.22, 40.12) |
Note: Values represent mean ± standard deviation.
Ig, immunoglobulin; Serum M protein, serum monoclonal protein level; MR pattern, MR signal intensity pattern; M protein, presence of IgA monoclonal protein; Uninvolved Igs, reduction of uninvolved Igs (number); BMPC%, bone marrow plasma cell percent.