Persistent Mild Anemia and Hypercalcemia were Ignored as Normal Reaction Secondary to Oral Calcium Supplementation in a Steroid-Dependent Asthma Patient Ultimately Diagnosed as Multiple Myeloma: a Case Report and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND Anemia can be secondary to many diseases and hypercalcemia can be secondary to oral calcium supplementation. For non-hematologists, anemia and hypercalcemia are usually ignored. Here we report a case of persistent mild anemia and hypercalcemia which were ignored as a normal reaction secondary to oral calcium supplementation in a steroid-dependent asthma patient; it was ultimately diagnosed as multiple myeloma. METHODS Bone marrow puncture, combined serum, and urine laboratory indexes were performed for diagnosis. RESULTS A bone marrow puncture specimen comprised 31.5% plasma cells. The serum and urine immunoelectrophoresis showed monoclonal kappa light chains. CONCLUSIONS When anemia and hypercalcemia occur in an elderly patient, physicians should pay attention to multiple myeloma, especially when accompanied with vertebral and flat bone fractures.