We report a case of familial multiple myeloma in a father and daughter. The same lambda chain was detectable in both patients. Symptom onset occurred three years earlier in the daughter than in the father. We found 52 previously published cases of familial myeloma, of which only 13 occurred in a parent and child. Given the incidence of myeloma in the general population, the occurrence of several cases in the same family is probably not due to chance. The few available data on karyotypes and oncogenes are discordant. The respective role of genetic factors and environmental factors is discussed.