Description of 48 cases of multiple myeloma seen in the hematology laboratory of the CHU-Joseph Ravoahangy Andrianavalona, Antananarivo, Madagascar

Monoclonal gammopathies are common abnormalities and their incidence increases with age. They are detected in roughly 3 % of people older over 50 years and up to 7 % of those over 70 years. Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by the proliferation of plasma cells within the bone marrow and excess secretion of monoclonal immunoglobulins. In Madagascar, late performance of biological examinations such as serum protein electrophoresis overestimates MM rates. We studied 54 patient records between March 2009 and January 2015 in the biology laboratory of the Joseph Ravoahangy Andrianavalona university hospital in Antananarivo (Madagascar). Monoclonal gammopathy was associated with multiple myeloma in most cases (88.9 %). Patients' median age was 64.2 years. Men were slightly more affected than women. It is discovered most frequently due to bone symptoms (83.3 %), and anemia is always present. Monoclonal gammopathy is mostly IgG. The bone marrow study showed medullary plasmacytosis. This disease appears most often in the elderly and has a slight male predominance. Bone marrow cytology is mandatory for diagnosis.