Nonsynthetizing multiple myeloma.

A case of multiple myeloma with no monoclonal protein synthesis is reported. The patient had hypogammaglobulinemia, bone marrow invasion, osteolytic lesions, and plasma cell tumors. The absence of protein synthesis has been demonstrated in bone marrow culture with tritiated leucine. No evidence of immunoglobulin production was found. Bone marrow or plasma cell tumor biopsy may be the only method of diagnosis in such cases.