Background Partial immunoparesis, which means at least two suppressed uninvolved immunoglobulins (Igs), had been reported to be associated with poor prognosis in patients with multiple myeloma (MM), but the impact on early infections remains unknown. The purpose of our study was to determine the prognostic implications of partial immunoparesis on early grade ≥3 infections in patients with MM. Methods Herein we retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 123 MM patients between 2012 and 2020 at Nanfang Hospital. All patients received bortezomib-based regimens. The relationship between early grade ≥3 infections and partial immunoparesis was investigated using Cox regression analysis. Results Our data showed partial immunoapresis was found in 63% MM patients. Partial immunoparesis was significantly related to elevated beta-2-microglobulin (B2M), decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and progressive international staging system (ISS) stage (P<0.05). Especially, univariate Cox regression analysis showed partial immunoparesis was significantly correlated with early grade ≥3 infections (P=0.003). Moreover, multivariate Cox regression analysis showed partial immunoparesis was an independent significant prognostic factor for early grade ≥3 infections [odds ratio (OR) =3.048; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.429–6.504; P=0.004]. Furthermore, partial immunoapresis could improve the infection risk model built by Dumontet et al. Conclusions Our study showed that partial immunoparesis could predict early infections in patients with MM, which may be used to identify the high risk patients for infections and guide strategies for infection prevention.

CD43 expression is an adverse prognostic factor in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma Introduction CD43 is an abundant, heavily-glycosylated, cell surface protein expressed on bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells and most white blood cells. Previous studies have found that CD43 also expressed in some types of lymphoma cells and associated with adverse outcomes. However, the prognosis value of CD43 expression in multiple myeloma (MM) remain unknown. Patients and Methods A total of 109 MM patients, newly diagnosed in Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University from January 2017 to December 2019, were included in the study. CD43 was detected by flow cytometre as follows: 2 ml of heparin anticoagulated bone marrow was collected from the patients at the time of diagnosis，1×10 6 cells were detected, and a gate was set for identifying abnormal plasma cells characterized by CD138 expression and CD38. CD43 positive was defined as more than 20% of the plasma cells expressed CD43. Results A total of 109 patients with newly diagnosed MM were enrolled in the study, including 77 patients (70.6%) for CD43 positive and 32 patients (29.4%) for CD43 negative . The median age was 58 years, and the male-female ratio was 1.7:1. Patients in the CD43 positive group were more likely to have international staging system (ISS) stage III (67.5% VS 46.9%, P= 0.044), hemoglobin &lt; 85g/L (64.9% VS 37.5%, P= 0.008), 13q deletion (31.4% VS 10.4%), and higher percentage of bone marrow monoclonal plasma cells detected by flow cytometry (5.5% VS 1.4%, P=0.003). Most patients enrolled in the study received bortezomib-based treatment. The very good partial response (VGPR) or better rate after 4 induction cycles was significantly lower in the CD43 positive group than CD43 negative group (35.1% VS 56.3%, P=0.041), and the overall response rate (ORR) in the CD43 positive group was lower than that in CD43 negative group (75.3% VS 84.4%, P=0.299), but no significantly difference. The median follow-up time was 22 months. Patients with CD43 positive had significantly lower PFS (median PFS 24 months VS not reached, P =0.012), and OS (median OS not reached, P = 0.023) than those with CD43 negative. Multivariate analysis indicated that CD43 positive expression was an independent poor risk factor for PFS (HR 2.517 95%CI 1.178-5.376, P = 0.017) and OS (HR 3.664 95%CI 1.100-12.075, P = 0.034). Conclusion Our study showed that CD43 expression was an adverse prognosis for multiple myeloma. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.