Understanding Multiple Myeloma: CRAB Signs

This CRAB will snap your USMLE score if you don’t see it coming

🧪 An Older adult with fatigue, recurrent infections, and hypercalcemia, Renal injury,

Anemia, and Bone lesions or Back pain. The CRAB signs of multiple myeloma.

🧠 Pathophysiology: Malignant plasma cells overproduce monoclonal immunoglobulin, crowd out normal marrow,

and erode bone, causing fractures and vertebral collapse. 🔍Diagnosis Best initial:

serum protein electrophoresis with an M spike. Most accurate: bone marrow biopsy

showing >10% clonal plasma cells. 💊Treatment Bortezomib-based chemotherapy; autologous stem cell transplant if eligible

“Let this CRAB slip by, and your shelf exam will pinch harder than spinal