Red cell distribution width, neutrophil lymphocyte ratio and interleukin 10 are good prognostic markers in multiple myeloma

BACKGROUND: Multiple myeloma (MM) is still an incurable disease so we need to continue developing new diagnostic and prognostic options for its management. There are multiple prognostic factors for MM, but most of them are costly and time consuming. Hence comes the urge to identify bed side and low cost prognostic tools, that is why this study was aiming to identify in Egyptian MM patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried on 60 newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients and 20 age and sex matched healthy individuals as controls. Studied subjects were subdivided into two groups: Group I: 60 multiple myeloma patients which were subdivided into three subgroups: Stage I: 10 patients, Stage II: 17 patients, Stage III: 33 patients, Group II: 20 healthy controls. RESULTS: A progressive significant increase in IL-10, RDW, NLR, and beta2 microglobulin (β2M) with disease progression from stage I towards stage III as compared to the control group. However, IL-10, RDW, and NLR have the best prognostic efficiency value regarding to sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value when compared with β2M. CONCLUSIONS: IL-10, RDW, and NLR are simple, easy and bedside tests (in the case of RDW, and NLR). They have high sensitivity and specificity when compared to β2M, which is a well-established prognostic factor that highlights the valuable role they play as prognostic markers in MM.