Typical clinical manifestations of multiple myeloma (mnemonic)

The typical clinical manifestations of multiple myeloma can be recalled using the mnemonic:

• CRAB

Mnemonic

• C: hypercalcemia
• R: renal failure
• A: anemia
• B: bone disease

The CRAB mnemonic can help differentiate multiple myeloma from its precursor diseases - monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and smoldering multiple myeloma .