To assess the frequency and timing of infections in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma during the first year of induction treatment and identify predictive factors for infection risk to improve risk management strategies.
Key Findings:
Infections occurred in 50.9% of patients, peaking in the first 3 months (27.3%, p < 0.05).
Pneumonia was the most common infection (34.1%).
Gram-negative organisms, particularly E. coli, Klebsiella spp., and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were prevalent.
Independent risk factors for infection included advanced ISS stage (OR: 3.83), diabetes mellitus (OR: 3.64), and chronic kidney disease (OR: 6.01).
Lymphocyte levels decreased during febrile episodes, suggesting a link to immune function.
Interpretation:
Infections pose a significant risk during the early induction phase of multiple myeloma treatment, particularly for patients with advanced disease and comorbidities. Identifying clinical indicators can aid in risk stratification and targeted prevention strategies, potentially improving patient outcomes.
Limitations:
Single-center study may limit generalizability.
Retrospective design may introduce bias, particularly in data collection.
Small sample size for certain treatment regimens limits subgroup analysis.
Conclusion:
Infections are a major concern in the first year of multiple myeloma therapy, especially among high-risk patients. Clinical indicators can guide infection prevention strategies during the early treatment phase, and further research is needed to validate these findings.
