Factors Explaining the Coincidence of Smoldering Multiple Myeloma and Primary Biliary Cholangitis: A Case Report

To date, there have been nine reported instances of coinciding smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). The term SMM was coined in 1980 to describe low-severity multiple myeloma cases, a hematologic neoplasia that involves the malignant proliferation of plasma cells. PBC is an autoimmune disorder targeting the intrahepatic bile ducts and is characterized by elevated anti-mitochondrial antibodies and often resulting in autoimmune liver cirrhosis. Currently, there is no plausible rationale for the coincidence of SMM and PBC in patients. This report investigates the relationship between SMM and PBC in a Hispanic 49-year-old female residing in the United States and attempts to determine the possible genetic and biochemical causes of this coincidence.