A 68-year-old woman arrives at the clinic after suffering from recurrent bacterial sinusitis, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections for several months. There are no preexisting medical issues or a history of serious illnesses in infancy for the patient. She does not smoke, drink, or use illegal drugs. The temperature is 36.6 C (97.9 F), the blood pressure is 130/76 mm Hg, and the pulse rate is 72 beats per minute. The lungs are clear to auscultation, the heart sounds are normal, and the belly is soft and nontender with no hepatosplenomegaly on physical examination. Laboratory results show normocytic normochromic anemia. As demonstrated here, a bone marrow aspirate has an increased number of cells. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's increased susceptibility to infections?

Question

A 68-year-old woman arrives at the clinic after suffering from recurrent bacterial sinusitis, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections for several months. There are no preexisting medical issues or a history of serious illnesses in infancy for the patient. She does not smoke, drink, or use illegal drugs. The temperature is 36.6 C (97.9 F), the blood pressure is 130/76 mm Hg, and the pulse rate is 72 beats per minute. The lungs are clear to auscultation, the heart sounds are normal, and the belly is soft and nontender with no hepatosplenomegaly on physical examination. Laboratory results show normocytic normochromic anemia. As demonstrated here, a bone marrow aspirate has an increased number of cells.  Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's increased susceptibility to infections?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Multiple myeloma is associated with the clonal proliferation of plasma cells in the bone marrow.  This prevents normal B-cell lymphogenesis and increases the risk of bacterial infection due to decreased production of normal immunoglobulins.

A 68-Year-Old Woman Arrives at the Clinic After Suffering from Recurrent