What was the role of Myeloma Canada in creating these guidelines?
Myeloma Canada provided logistic and financial support throughout all stages of the development, review, submission and publication of the consensus guidelines on the diagnosis of MM and related disorders (ie, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance; smouldering MM). The project was solely supported by Myeloma Canada without funding from the pharmaceutical industry.

Where can I get the full version of the guidelines?
The guidelines were published in an international peer-reviewed journal: Clinical Lymphoma, Myeloma & Leukemia. Click here for the full guidelines.

Who are the authors and how did they arrive at the recommendations?
The guidelines were developed by the Myeloma Canada Research Network Consensus Guideline Consortium (MCRN-CGC). The development of the consensus recommendations began with a review of clinical evidence, daily practice, existing guidelines, and availability of diagnostic tools. Members of the MCRN-CGC were assigned specific topics to be discussed and reviewed by the entire group during two face-to-face meetings. Subsequently, other MCRN members (MCRN contributors) were given the opportunity to review the consensus recommendations prior to its submission for publication.

What is the purpose of creating these guidelines?
As there were no unified Canadian national guidelines for the diagnosis of MM and related disorders, there was a need for evidence-based national recommendations. Although some provinces have their own guidelines, the Canadian national guidelines take provincial variations in access and funding into consideration. The overarching goal is to provide Canadian clinicians with concise diagnostic recommendations upon which therapeutic decisions can be made. The focus is on relevance, applicability, and the use of the various tests available in routine Canadian practice.

To read the full paper, click here.