Table 1.

International Myeloma Working Group diagnostic criteria for relapsed disease in multiple myeloma

Nonaggressive relapse
Biochemical relapseSymptomatic relapseAggressive relapse
Progression based on increase of M-protein Slow inset of clinical symptoms and slowly increasing M-protein Adverse cytogenetic abnormalities, eg, t(4;14), del(17p), ampl (1q21), hypodiploidy 
No associated symptoms or MM-related organ dysfunction Progressive disease with prominent symptoms and/or significant organ compromise High β2M (>5.5 mg/L) or low albumin (<3.5 g/dL) 
Presence of extramedullary disease 
High LDH 
Short duration of response or progression while on therapy 
Aggressive clinical presentation including: 
 • Rapid onset of symptoms 
 • Extensive disease on laboratory, radiography, or pathology findings 
 • Disease-associated organ impairment 
Circulating plasma cells 
ISS stage II/III at relapse 
Isotype transformation (light chain escape, hyposecretory disease) 
Nonaggressive relapse
Biochemical relapseSymptomatic relapseAggressive relapse
Progression based on increase of M-protein Slow inset of clinical symptoms and slowly increasing M-protein Adverse cytogenetic abnormalities, eg, t(4;14), del(17p), ampl (1q21), hypodiploidy 
No associated symptoms or MM-related organ dysfunction Progressive disease with prominent symptoms and/or significant organ compromise High β2M (>5.5 mg/L) or low albumin (<3.5 g/dL) 
Presence of extramedullary disease 
High LDH 
Short duration of response or progression while on therapy 
Aggressive clinical presentation including: 
 • Rapid onset of symptoms 
 • Extensive disease on laboratory, radiography, or pathology findings 
 • Disease-associated organ impairment 
Circulating plasma cells 
ISS stage II/III at relapse 
Isotype transformation (light chain escape, hyposecretory disease) 

LDH, lactate dehydrogenase.

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