Table 1.
Clinical characteristics and cytogenetics in primary plasma cell leukemia and multiple myeloma
| Clinical characteristics at diagnosis | Primary plasma cell leukemia | Multiple myeloma |
| Male | 55% | 55% |
| Age (median) | 61.5 years | 69 years |
| IgG | 46% | 58% |
| IgA | 13% | 22% |
| Light chain only | 30% | 15% |
| Nonsecretory | 10% | 4% |
| Other | 1% | 1% |
| Anemia, Hgb < 10 g/dL | 81% | 47% |
| Trombocytes < 130* | 63% | 5% |
| Elevated creatinine** | 22% | 24% |
| Abnormal LDH*** | 60% | 12% |
| Hypercalcemia**** | 27% | 12% |
| Bone disease | 65% | 77% |
| ISS I | 10% | 27% |
| ISS II | 23% | 39% |
| ISS III | 67% | 34% |
| Cytogenetic findings at diagnosis | ||
| Translocation (11;14) | 26% | 21% |
| Translocation (4;14) | 14% | 14% |
| Translocation (14;16) | 20% | 4% |
| Deletion (17p) | 40% | 11% |
| Whole/partial deletion 13q | 42% | 48% |
| Amplification 1q | 32% | 40% |
Data compounded from studies referenced below. *Some studies use thrombocytes < 100, **Creatinine > 2 mg/dl, ***Most studies are not defining limits of elevated LDH, ****Non ionized calcium > 2.75 mmol/l or ionized calcium > 1.45 mmol/l. References: [19•, 20•, 21•, 22•, 23•, 24•, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35•, 36]