Hemarthrosis as the presenting manifestation of true myeloma joint disease

Abstract

This is the first report of a patient with hemarthrosis due to invasion of the synovial membrane by myeloma cells. With angiographic studies of the affected joint it was apparent that the tumor tissue extended from the destructive bone lesion of the femoral condyle into the synovial membrane. Intraarticular spontaneous bleeding was the first manifestation of a monoclonal IgG multiple myeloma; the hemarthrosis recurred after drainage but was controlled with local roentgen therapy.Multiple myeloma is a malignant disease of plasma cells; even though the skeletal system is the seat of early and common clinical manifestations, the joints do not usually become involved with this pathologic process. Amyloid arthritis is the recognized type of joint disease in these patients (1-2).