PURPOSE To provide evidence-based recommendations on the treatment of multiple myeloma to practicing physicians and others. METHODS ASCO and Cancer Care Ontario convened an Expert Panel of medical oncology, surgery, radiation oncology, and advocacy experts to conduct a literature search, which included systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, and some phase II studies published from 2005 through 2018. Outcomes of interest included survival, progression-free survival, response rate, and quality of life. Expert Panel members used available evidence and informal consensus to develop evidence-based guideline recommendations. RESULTS The literature search identified 124 relevant studies to inform the evidence base for this guideline. RECOMMENDATIONS Evidence-based recommendations were developed for patients with multiple myeloma who are transplantation eligible and those who are ineligible and for patients with relapsed or refractory disease.

Impedance plethysmography using the cuff technique has been compared with venography in 346 consecutive patients with suspected venous thromboembolism. The limbs were classified according to the venographic results as no thrombosis, proximal (popliteal, femoral, or iliac) vein thrombosis, and calf thrombosis. A discriminant analysis was performed. The impedance plethysmographic result was normal in 386 of 397 limbs which were normal on venography, a specificity of 97%, and abnormal in 124 of 133 limbs which showed proximal vein thrombosis, a sensitivity of 93%. Seventy-three of 88 limbs with calf vein thrombi and a normal impedance plethysmographic result. The sensitivity in 29 limbs with asymptomatic proximal vein thrombosis was 83%. Impedance plethysmography is an accurate method for detecting proximal vein thrombosis but has limitations which include the possibility of false positive results due to arterial insufficiency and muscle tension.

Key Points There is a high level of heterogeneity in cGVHD plasma biomarkers in a large cGVHD cohort, with CXCL10 being the most reproducible marker. CXCR3+CD56bright natural killer regulatory cells have a strong inverse relationship with plasma CXCL10 in patients with or without cGVHD.

Venography is the standard method for the diagnosis of venous thrombosis but is invasive and may cause discomfort. We evaluated the combination of impedance plethysmography and 125I-fibrinogen leg scanning as an alternative to venography in 200 symptomatic patients. One or both of these less invasive tests was positive in 81 of 86 patients with positive venograms (sensitivity of 94 per cent) and both were negative in 104 of 114 patients with negative venograms (specificity of 91 per cent). These two tests detected all 60 patients with popliteal or more proximal venous thrombosis and 21 of 26 patients with calf-vein thrombosis. In addition, this approach detected 21 of 22 patients with calf-vein thrombosis with symptoms for eight days or less. These results suggest that the combination of these two less invasive tests can be used as an alternative to venography in selected patients with clinically suspected venous thrombosis.