Smoldering Myeloma Associated with Zonisamide Treatment

A 39-year-old man was found to have hyperproteinemia after being treated with zonisamide for 10 years. Laboratory examination revealed a serum M-protein which consisted of IgG (λ) and an increased number of plasma cells in the bone marrow, resulting in a diagnosis of smoldering myeloma. Considering his age, zonisamide was suspected to play an etiologic role in the occurrence of smoldering myeloma. Zonisamide was changed to sodium valproate. Subsequently the M-protein did not increase over 13 months. When zonisamide is used, the monitoring of serum levels of M-protein and patterns of gammaglobulin is warranted. (Internal Medicine 41:138-141, 2002)