Background: Identification of high-risk patients with multiple myeloma (MM) is important for improving treatment outcomes. Efforts to identify significant prognostic markers are unremitting. Angiogenesis plays an important mechanism in the progression of MM. One of the mediators of this angiogenic process is interleukin-10 (IL-10).
Aim: To assess the role of IL-10 as a prognostic marker in MM.
Methods:  This was a cross-sectional study that included 39 newly diagnosed patients with MM. Serum IL-10 level was measured using Magnetic Luminex® Assay multiplex. The relationship between IL-10 and tumor stage and other known prognostic markers in MM was studied.
Results: The median (interquartile range) value of IL-10 was 3 (2.9 – 3.2) pg/mL. Interleukin-10 level differed significantly according to the revised International Staging System stage of MM, being higher in higher stages.  The median (interquartile range) IL-10 level was 2.89 (2.79 – 2.95) pg/mL in stage I, 3 (2.9 – 3.1) in stage II and 3.2 (3.1 – 3.66) in stage III (p = 0.0009). In addition, higher IL-10 correlated significantly with lower hemoglobin (p = 0.002), lower albumin (p = 0.045), higher creatinine (p = 0.009), higher β2-microglobulin (p = 0.002), higher lactate dehydrogenase (p = 0.0007) and higher bone marrow plasma cell percentage (p = 0.015).
Conclusion: The results support a prognostic role of IL-10 in MM and its pathogenesis.