Abstract: Objective:This study investigated the clinical characteristics of multiple myeloma with early death in the era of novel drugs. Methods:Medical records from 188 patients diagnosed from January 2009to December 2015were retrospectively reviewed, showing that early death occurred in 19patients. Early death was defined as death by any cause within the first year after diagnosis.Results: (1) Early mortality was 10. 1%, and the median age was67years old (range: 40- 84years). Eight cases presented IgG type, and 11cases were non-IgG type. All19patients were diagnosed to be at stage Ⅲin accordance with the Durie –Salmon staging system, and renal insufficiency occurred in 10patients. In accordance with the International Staging System (ISS), four patients were diagnosed to be at stageⅡ, whereas 15other patients were at stage Ⅲ. Extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) occurred in six cases, whereas 10cases pre -sented high- risk patients with cytogenetic abnormalities. Elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was found in five cases, amyloidosis was detected in three patients, and secondary plasma cell leukemia was observed in two cases. The median score of performance sta-tus (KPS) was 70(range: 20- 80). A total of 16patients were treated with bortezomib, and 3 patients were treated with CADT. ( 2) Among the 13patients who were evaluated, the overall response rate was 46. 2% (6/13), and the complete response (CR) and near-CR rate was 7. 7% (1/13). (3) The median overall survival was 3 (1- 11. 5) months, although the two patients with secondary plasma cell leu -kemia survived for less than 2 months. ( 4) Eight patients died of disease progression ( 42. 1%), eight patients died of severe infections (42. 1% ), and three patients died of thrombotic events. Conclusion: The important causes of early death include the following: high-risk cytogenetics, elevated LDH, EMP, amyloidosis, advanced age, poor performance status, and serious complications during treat -ment. In the era of novel drugs, we should improve early diagnosis rates and explore individualized treatment for high-risk multiple my-eloma for the benefit of a wide range of patients.