Diagnosis and management guideline for multiple myeloma

The prognosis of patients with multiple myeloma has been improved in the last decade due to the induction of autologous stem cell transplantation and novel drugs including thalidomide, lenalidomide, and bortezomib into the treatment. Recently, the UK Myeloma Forum and International Myeloma Foundation have successively proposed myeloma management guidelines. Because many novel drugs are not available in Japanese patients, we can not use the same treatment strategy in U.S.A. and Europe. In this chapter, the diagnosis and management guideline is proposed for Japanese patients with myeloma. For convenience, the recommendations are divided into: 1. Diagnostic criteria 2. Indications for starting therapy 3. Treatment(initial therapy, maintenance therapy, and therapy for refractory/relapsed patients) 4. Response criteria 5. Supportive care and management of specific complications.