From Myeloma to Plasma Cell Leukemia, Persistent Inequalities

Multiple myeloma (MM) is both a complex and heterogeneous disease. Cytogenetic and molecular abnormalities lead to resistance to treatment and transformation to plasma cell leukemia, which is defined by the presence in circulating blood of plasma cells over 2 G/L, or more than 20% of leukocytes. It is an uncommon hematological malignancy with a poor prognosis. Against this backdrop, we report an observation of multiple myeloma transformed into plasma cell leukemia diagnosed at the Hôpital Principal de Dakar (HPD) that occurred on a 64-year-old man with a history of thyroidectomy followed for multiple myeloma presenting with Salmon et Durie stage IIIA and ISS stage I. Despite a marked improvement in management strategy, myeloma remains an almost invariably incurable disease. However, the development of genetic and molecular biomarkers is necessary to improve its prognosis.