Association of polycythemia vera and multiple myeloma. Presentation of a new case and review of the literature

We present a patient diagnosed of polycythemia vera who developed a multiple myeloma 13 years after the initial diagnosis of polycythemia vera. Although an unusual finding, another 17 patients with polycythemia and myeloma have been described. In some patients the diagnosis of both diseases was simultaneous but in most cases myeloma developed years after polycythemia vera.

Some patients received only venipuncture for treatment of polycythemia vera so the appearance of multiple myeloma could not be explained on the grounds of chemotherapy induced second neoplasm. An explanation for this association is suggested.

CITATION  Sangre (Barc). 1993 Dec;38(6):497-9