Researchers of a recent study aimed to identify clinical laboratory parameters for diagnosing newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) and develop a diagnostic model for early and precise detection. A retrospective analysis of 279 patients with NDMM and 553 healthy individuals was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic value of hemoglobin (Hb), albumin (Alb), and platelet distribution width (PDW). Optimal cutoff values were established: Alb <39.3 g/L, Hb <11.6 g/dL, and PDW <14.1 fL, which significantly increased the likelihood of an NDMM diagnosis. A diagnostic model based on these parameters demonstrated excellent accuracy, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.960 in the development cohort and 0.979 in the external validation cohort, showing strong sensitivity (0.860) and specificity (0.957).

The findings suggest that the combination of Hb, Alb, and PDW serves as a reliable and effective tool for the initial screening and diagnosis of NDMM. The diagnostic model’s high accuracy and generalizability support its potential use in clinical settings, enabling earlier and more precise identification of NDMM for timely intervention.

Reference: Li M, Wu H, Shou C, et al. Optimal cut-off values and diagnostic significance of clinical laboratory indicators in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Discov Oncol. 2024;15(1):477. doi: 10.1007/s12672-024-01254-z.