[Husker Fan]

A question about IgG and IgM

by Husker Fan on Sun Dec 18, 2011 11:02 pm

I'm having trouble finding any info online about IgG and IgM. My husband's oncologist told me that my husband doesn't have an M-spike because he was diagnosed with IgG, not IgM myeloma. Does this make sense to anyone?? I keep reading about M-spike numbers and it seems to me like *everyone else has an M-spike*. I'm totally confused.

[Lin]

Re: A question about IgG and IgM

by Lin on Mon Dec 19, 2011 12:03 am

Hi Husker Fan,
My multiple myeloma is IgG Kappa and I had an M spike when I was first diagnosed. Perhaps your husband is a non secreter. It might be beneficial for you and your husband to visit a multiple myeloma specialist.
Best of luck.
Lin

[Dr. Adam Cohen]

Re: A question about IgG and IgM

by Dr. Adam Cohen on Tue Dec 20, 2011 12:05 pm

Dear Husker Fan,
While the majority of myeloma patients do have a measurable "M-spike" on serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP), there are a proportion of patients (about 15-20%) who do not. These may include patients whose myeloma cells only secrete light chains (either kappa or lambda); those who secrete very low levels of heavy chains (IgG, IgA, or IgM) that are missed by the SPEP; or those whose myeloma cells don't make any protein ("non-secretors"). That's why we always run mutliple tests in the beginning (serum protein electrophoresis, serum immunofixation, serum free light chains, quantitative immunoglobulins, and 24 hour urine for urine protein electrophoresis and immunofixation), so we can see which type of myeloma patients have and which are the best tests to use to follow their disease going forward. Your oncologist should be able to give you all the results of these tests and explain the subtype you have.
Hope this is helpful.

[Husker Fan]

Re: A question about IgG and IgM

by Husker Fan on Tue Dec 20, 2011 3:54 pm

Thank you Dr. Cohen and Lin! Your information has been most helpful.