ASSOCIATION OF SERUM LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE WITH INTERNATIONAL STAGING SYSTEM AND OVERALL SURVIVAL IN NEWLY DIAGNOSED MULTIPLE MYELOMA PATIENTS

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell malignancy with a variable clinical course. The International Staging System (ISS) is commonly used for risk stratification. Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is a routinely available biochemical parameter that may reflect disease activity and tumor aggressiveness. Although the Revised International Staging System (R-ISS) provides improved prognostic accuracy by incorporating cytogenetic abnormalities and LDH, its application is often limited in resource-constrained settings due to restricted availability of cytogenetic testing and, in some centers, B2-microglobulin estimation. In such settings,LDH may provide additional prognostic information when evaluated alongside ISS. Therefore, the present study aims to assess the utility of combining LDH with ISS for prognostication and risk stratification in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients.