Multiple Myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells that are found in the bone marrow.  The plasma cells normally produce antibodies that help defend the body from disease.  In Multiple Myeloma the malignant plasma cells overproduce a single antibody type (clone). If left untreated, the cancerous cells will proliferate and “take over” the bone marrow, thereby “crowding out” the normal marrow function.  Thus, red cell production will be impaired  (anemia), white cell production will go down (leucopenia) and this will allow increased infections, and platelet production will be impaired  (thrombocytopenia) with a bruising and bleeding tendency.  There will also be bone pain and a tendency to fractures. The excess protein produced may even cause sludging of the blood flow.

The lab diagnosis is made using  techniques called protein electrophoresis and Immunofixation, techniques that separate blood proteins into their various types and help identify them.