Abstract
Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) that presents with no quantifiable M spike on immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) can be termed IFE MGUS. We retrospectively identified patients with IFE MGUS who were monitored with at least 1 subsequent assessment that included an IFE, and evaluated the persistence of the monoclonal protein and the progression of disease. Although the monoclonal proteins persisted in the majority of patients, 16% did not experience this persistence, and had no documented immunomodulatory therapy. After a median follow-up of 3.9 years, the disease clinically progressed in 14 patients (3.2%). Eight of these 14 patients with clinical progression had an immunoglobulin (Ig) A IFE M protein and 6 had an IgG M protein. This study demonstrates that in some patients with IFE MGUS, the M proteins are transient and that IgA IFE MGUS is more likely to persist and progress to myeloma.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 609-613 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | American journal of clinical pathology |
Volume | 138 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 2012 |
Keywords
- Immunofixation electrophoresis
- MGUS
- Progression
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pathology and Forensic Medicine