Acute liver failure as an initial presentation of multiple myeloma

Authors

  • Naddya Olivero Danies Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Biomédicas de Córdoba – Hospital Privado Universitario – Departamento de Hematología – Córdoba – Argentina. https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2817-6188
  • Martin Milanesio Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Biomédicas de Córdoba – Hospital Privado Universitario – Departamento de Hematología – Córdoba – Argentina. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9521-3601
  • Ana Victoria Sanchez Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Biomédicas de Córdoba – Hospital Privado Universitario – Departamento de Patología – Córdoba – Argentina. https://orcid.org/0009-0006-6180-3546
  • Julieta Olmedo Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Biomédicas de Córdoba – Hospital Privado Universitario – Departamento de Hematología – Córdoba – Argentina. https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8691-7564
  • Gaston Caeiro Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Biomédicas de Córdoba – Hospital Privado Universitario – Departamento de Hematología – Córdoba – Argentina. https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3803-6842
  • Ana Lisa Basquiera Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Biomédicas de Córdoba – Hospital Privado Universitario – Departamento de Hematología – Córdoba – Argentina. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9892-5543

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46765/2675-374X.2025v7n1e344

Keywords:

Multiple myeloma, Monoclonal gammopathy, Acute liver failure, Jaundice, Anemia

Abstract

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a clonal plasma cell neoplasm primarily involving the bone marrow and typically presenting with end-organ damage, including renal impairment, lytic bone lesions, anemia, and hypercalcemia. Extramedullary disease at diagnosis is uncommon, and acute liver failure as an initial manifestation is exceptionally rare; consequently, only a limited number of cases have been reported. We describe a 44-year-old woman with no relevant past medical history who was admitted to the intensive care unit with acute liver failure. After an extensive diagnostic work-up, MM with hepatic involvement was identified, and treatment was initiated promptly. Recognition of this unusual presentation is critical given its adverse prognosis, and reporting additional cases may help improve awareness and facilitate earlier diagnosis and management.

References

1. Rajkumar SV. Multiple myeloma: 2024 update on diagnosis, risk-stratification, and management. Am J Hematol. 2024;99(9):1802-24. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajh.27422 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajh.27422

2. Wadehra A, Chokshi B, Buechler CR, Singh MM. Rapidly progressive acute liver failure in relapsed multiple myeloma. Cureus. 2020;12(12):e12346. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.12346 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.12346

3. Cull S, Westrich DJ Jr., Bhatia R, Lai J, Befeler AS. Multiple myeloma presenting as acute liver failure. ACG Case Rep J. 2017;4:e85. https://doi.org/10.14309/crj.2017.85 DOI: https://doi.org/10.14309/crj.2017.85

4. Gertz MA, Vincent Rajkumar S. Multiple myeloma: diagnosis and treatment. New York: Springer; 2013. 311 p. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8520-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8520-9

5. Ho M, Paruzzo L, Minehart J, Nabar N, Noll JH, Luo T, et al. Extramedullary multiple myeloma: challenges and opportunities. Curr Oncol. 2025;32(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol32030182 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol32030182

6. Rahhal FE, Schade RR, Nayak A, Coleman TA. Hepatic failure caused by plasma cell infiltration in multiple myeloma. World J Gastroenterol. 2009;15(16):2038-40. https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.15.2038 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.15.2038

7. Marcon M, Cereser L, Girometti R, Cataldi P, Volpetti S, Bazzocchi M. Liver involvement by multiple myeloma presenting as hypervascular focal lesions in a patient with chronic hepatitis B infection. BJR Case Rep. 2016; 2(3): 20150013. https://doi.org/10.1259/bjrcr.20150013 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1259/bjrcr.20150013

8. Szallasi A, Antar A, Imataki O. Case reports in hematological malignancies: 2022. Lausanne: Frontiers Media SA; 2023. 236 p. https://doi.org/10.3389/978-2-8325-3408-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/978-2-8325-3408-3

9. Berríos M, Armas-Merino R, Franco C, Parrochia E, Wolff C. Acute liver failure in patient with liver amyloidosis associated to multiple myeloma. Rev Med Chil. 2003;131(11):1301-4. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0034-98872003001100011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4067/S0034-98872003001100011

10. Thiruvengadam R, Penetrante RB, Goolsby HJ, Silk YN, Bernstein ZP. Multiple myeloma presenting as space-occupying lesions of the liver. Cancer. 1990;65(12):2784-6. https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-0142(19900615)65:12<2784::AID-CNCR2820651229>3.0.CO;2-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-0142(19900615)65:12<2784::AID-CNCR2820651229>3.0.CO;2-3

11. Macías Robles MD, Navia-Osorio García-Braga JM, Menéndez Caro JL, Velasco Alonso J, López Lagunas I. Jaundice secondary to intrahepatic deposit of light chains as a presenting form of multiple mieloma. An Med Interna. 1994;11(2):74-6. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8193237. Accessed: 2025 Oct 17.

12. Kapadia SB. Multiple myeloma: a clinicopathologic study of 62 consecutively autopsied cases. Medicine (Baltimore). 1980;59(5):380-92. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005792-198009000-00005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00005792-198009000-00005

13. Talamo G, Cavallo F, Zangari M, Barlogie B, Lee CK, Pineda-Roman M, et al. Clinical and biological features of multiple myeloma involving the gastrointestinal system. Haematologica. 2006 Jul;91(7):964-7. Available from: https://haematologica.org/article/view/4074. Accessed: 2025 Jun 09.

14. Ales NC, Daniels JT, Frizell ER, Koff JM, Kaplan KJ, Wortmann GW. Multiple myeloma-associated amyloidosis manifesting as fulminant hepatic failure. South Med J. 2001;94(10):1036-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00007611-200110000-00020

15. Shingina A, Mukhtar N, Wakim-Fleming J, Alqahtani S, Wong RJ, Limketkai BN, et al. Acute liver failure guidelines. Am J Gastroenterol. 2023;118(7):1128-53. https://doi.org/10.14309/ajg.0000000000002340 DOI: https://doi.org/10.14309/ajg.0000000000002340

16. Stansfield LC, Gonsalves WI, Buadi FK. The use of novel agents in multiple myeloma patients with hepatic impairment. Future Oncol. 2015;11(3):501-10. https://doi.org/10.2217/fon.14.270 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2217/fon.14.270

Downloads

Published

04/22/2026

How to Cite

Danies, N. O., Milanesio, M., Sanchez, A. V., Olmedo, J., Caeiro, G., & Basquiera, A. L. (2026). Acute liver failure as an initial presentation of multiple myeloma. JOURNAL OF BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION AND CELLULAR THERAPY, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.46765/2675-374X.2025v7n1e344