DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sjmcr.2024.v12i12.023

Pages: 2100-2103

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a medical emergency characterized by severe hypoxemia and alveolar-capillary damage leading to non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema. While commonly associated with severe infections, it can also reveal underlying conditions such as hematological diseases. Multiple myeloma, a plasma cell cancer, is often complicated by severe infections due to the immunosuppression it induces, but its association with ARDS remains rare and poorly understood. This relationship could be explained by shared immune, inflammatory, and vascular mechanisms. We report the case of a 61-year-old man admitted for severe pneumonia complicated by ARDS. Imaging and biological investigations led to the incidental discovery of latent multiple myeloma, with lytic bone lesions and hematological abnormalities. The objective of this article is to explore the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of this association, analyze its clinical implications, and propose a multidisciplinary approach for managing this rare and complex condition.