Plasma cells and immunoglobins -- Molecular biology of plasma cell disorders -- The role of viruses in the pathogenesis of plasma cell disorders -- Cytokine abnormalities in plasma cell disorders -- Cytogenetics in plasma cell disorders -- Immunoregulatory mechanisms and immunotherapy -- Bone disease in myeloma -- Angiogenesis and thalidomide in plasma cell disorders -- Epidemiology of plasma cell disorders -- Clinical features and diagnostic criteria -- Prognostic factors in myeloma -- Neuropathy in plasma cell disorders -- The kidney in plasma cell disorders -- Infections : principles of prevention and therapy -- Clinical significance of bone marrow and bone morphology in myeloma -- Imaging studies -- Conventional treatment of myeloma -- High-dose therapy and autologous transplantation -- Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in myeloma -- The role of radiotherapy -- Role of interferons -- Supportive therapy -- Monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance -- Solitary plasmacytoma -- Amyloidosis -- Wladenström's macroglobulinaemia -- Multicentric Castleman's disease -- Light-chain deposition disease
Summary
Written primarily for haematologists but of value to oncologists as well, this comprehensive review of myeloma includes contributions from international experts in the field