A risk score was used to assess and label individual blood samples as follows: low-risk MGUS, 0 to 1 (gray); intermediate-risk MGUS, 2 (white); high-risk MGUS, 3 or higher (orange). Each series of boxes represents a unique patient, each box represents a unique blood sample, and the x-axis represents number of years before multiple myeloma diagnosis (for case patients) and number of years before selection (for controls). Each box includes a number that represents the risk score. MG indicates nonprogressing MGUS; and MM, progressing MGUS.
aFulfilled the blood-based criteria for smoldering multiple myeloma (ie, M spike concentration ≥30 g/L).
bFulfilled the blood-based criteria for multiple myeloma (ie, serum free light chain ratio ≥100 and involved serum free light chain concentration ≥10 mg/dL).