Inclusion Criteria:

- Multiple myeloma, stage I-III, previously untreated, and eligible for induction
therapy followed by high dose treatment supported by autologous stem cell
transplantation.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Severe uncontrolled clinical or microbiological evidence of infection at the time of
enrolment.

- Other active malignancy.

- Severe coincident heart or lung disease including uncontrolled hypertension, unstable
angina, congestive heart failure, coronary angioplasty within six months, myocardial
infarction within the last six months, or uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia.

- Other severe illness including poorly controlled diabetes.

- Haemolytic anaemia (Coombs positive without evidence of haemolysis is accepted).

- Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

- Terminal illness.

- Allogenic transplantation planned within 6 months.

- Chemotherapy before inclusion.

- Pregnancy or breast-feeding, or inadequate contraceptive precautions.

- Psychiatric disease, abuse of alcohol or narcotics, or any other disorder that might
compromise the patients ability to give informed consent.