I'm pretty terrified of what is wrong with me. I have no other symptoms. Anyone please comment!
Lab test abnormal
Serum:
Total protein 8.3 (5.7-8.2)
IgG 2330 (700-1600 mg/dl)
Albumin (SPE) 44 (47.4-61)%
Gamma Globulin 30.2 (11.5-23.2)%
A:G ratio (electrophoresis) 0.8 (.90-2.00)
Gamma globulin 2.5 (0.7-1.5) g/dl
No monoclonal protein detected
Beta-2 micro-globulin 1.4 (0.6-2.3) mg/l
Kappa free light chain (serum) 24.56 (3.3-19.4) mg/l
Kappa / Lambda ratio 1.70 (.26-1.65)
Platelets 126 (150-400) K/ul
Awaiting results of 24hr urine
Forums
Re: Abnormal lab test - sign of MGUS or multiple myeloma?
Chevon,
Be clear that I am not a doctor and only your doc can really comment accurately on your situation.
I realize this can be a scary time and one can easily (and unnecessarily) jump to worst case scenarios very quickly when you first get a hint you might have a diagnosis of some sort of monoclonal gammopathy. We've all been there.
What led you your doctor to run these particular tests in the first place?
I don't think you can really say that these lab values definitively represent MGUS at this point. Other conditions such as an infection could elevate some of your values such as your IgG and free light chains (which are only modestly elevated).
Your 24-hour urine test (UPEP) will also provide another important clue. Your doctor may simply ask you to get re-tested in a few months just to see where this leads or to verify if it is just a transient situation. Depending on your UPEP results, he/she may also suggest additional tests such as a bone marrow biopsy to confirm whether this is monoclonal gammopathy such as MGUS.
In any case, note that it is a good sign that you don't have any measured serum monoclonal protein, as this likely (but not definitively) suggests that your lab values may be due to another, less serious condition. By the way, what was the name of the test that said you didn't have any monoclonal protein present (it would either be a serum protein electrophoresis test or an immunofixation test)?
Also note that even if it is MGUS (which a lot of folks have and never know it), you can easily live your whole life without ever progressing to a symptomatic stage that would require treatment or impact your life in any way. The risk of progressing from MGUS to symptomatic multiple myeloma is only about 1% per year.
If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?
Hope this helps a bit.
Be clear that I am not a doctor and only your doc can really comment accurately on your situation.
I realize this can be a scary time and one can easily (and unnecessarily) jump to worst case scenarios very quickly when you first get a hint you might have a diagnosis of some sort of monoclonal gammopathy. We've all been there.
What led you your doctor to run these particular tests in the first place?
I don't think you can really say that these lab values definitively represent MGUS at this point. Other conditions such as an infection could elevate some of your values such as your IgG and free light chains (which are only modestly elevated).
Your 24-hour urine test (UPEP) will also provide another important clue. Your doctor may simply ask you to get re-tested in a few months just to see where this leads or to verify if it is just a transient situation. Depending on your UPEP results, he/she may also suggest additional tests such as a bone marrow biopsy to confirm whether this is monoclonal gammopathy such as MGUS.
In any case, note that it is a good sign that you don't have any measured serum monoclonal protein, as this likely (but not definitively) suggests that your lab values may be due to another, less serious condition. By the way, what was the name of the test that said you didn't have any monoclonal protein present (it would either be a serum protein electrophoresis test or an immunofixation test)?
Also note that even if it is MGUS (which a lot of folks have and never know it), you can easily live your whole life without ever progressing to a symptomatic stage that would require treatment or impact your life in any way. The risk of progressing from MGUS to symptomatic multiple myeloma is only about 1% per year.
If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?
Hope this helps a bit.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Abnormal lab test - sign of MGUS or multiple myeloma?
Thank you so much for replying Multibilly!I had no real symptoms but was experiencing some vertigo for several days and also PmD thought I had some viral symptoms. I asked why she had done test once results came back but she really didn't have an answer.
I took meclizine for the vertigo for a day or two and it resolved. She referred to me hematologist. This was in October. She did thr all the test above. The test done was SPEP and IFE. Doctor said because was slightly high wanted to do 24 hour urine. Still awaiting results. She said depending on results of urine might do BMB because platelet count 126.
I'm worried but thank you for your insight. It was greatly appreciated. I'm 49.
Others please I would like your input too.
I took meclizine for the vertigo for a day or two and it resolved. She referred to me hematologist. This was in October. She did thr all the test above. The test done was SPEP and IFE. Doctor said because was slightly high wanted to do 24 hour urine. Still awaiting results. She said depending on results of urine might do BMB because platelet count 126.
I'm worried but thank you for your insight. It was greatly appreciated. I'm 49.
Others please I would like your input too.
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caajcbj - Name: Chevon
Re: Abnormal lab test - sign of MGUS or multiple myeloma?
An IFE is a very accurate test for determining if there is monoclonal protein present in your blood or not. It's good that this was the test that confirmed you had no serum monoclonal protein.
Another test called an SPEP can measure the amount of monoclonal protein in one's blood, but it's not quite as accurate as an IFE when it comes to figuring out if monoclonal protein is completely absent from one's blood.
Another test called an SPEP can measure the amount of monoclonal protein in one's blood, but it's not quite as accurate as an IFE when it comes to figuring out if monoclonal protein is completely absent from one's blood.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Abnormal lab test - sign of MGUS or multiple myeloma?
I had two bad bouts of vertigo 18 months and exactly 1year before I was diagnosed with MGUS. I've not had it before or since and wonder if it was associated with increased monoclonal proteins and/or light chains? Is it a common ailment for all of us?
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Spanish Mary - Name: Spanish Mary
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self, MGUS
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 59
Re: Abnormal lab test - sign of MGUS or multiple myeloma?
My 24 hour urine came back completely normal today. So doc says she will repeat blood test to see if platelets are normal or still dropping. If still abnormal, will do a BMB.
Does this seem reasonable or should I go for a second opinion?
Does this seem reasonable or should I go for a second opinion?
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caajcbj - Name: Chevon
Re: Abnormal lab test - sign of MGUS or multiple myeloma?
Congrats on the UPEP! Again, I'm not a doc, but the approach of getting re-tested in the future seems reasonable to me. As you may recall, I was thinking this was one of the likely scenarios for the next step. But somebody else on the forum may have a different opinion.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Abnormal lab test - sign of MGUS or multiple myeloma?
Yes Multibilly you did say this!! Thanks again for your input!
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caajcbj - Name: Chevon
Re: Abnormal lab test - sign of MGUS or multiple myeloma?
Hi,
I was just recently diagnosed with MGUS but it wasn't definitive until I got a bone marrow biopsy. The bone marrow biopsy is the only sure fire way to rule out MGUS and multiple myeloma completely. I'm too impatient and I wanted to know exactly what I was dealing with, so I asked my oncologist for a BMB, which he tried to talk me out of because he claimed it was "not medically necessary". I demanded he did one, and the results came back positive for MGUS and abnormal for myeloma panel and chromosomes with trisomies, etc, abnormal chromosomes.
So now I am scheduled to see a multiple myeloma specialist at New York's Mt. Sinai Cancer Center to have more tests done that should've been done in the first place if only to rule everything else out, including active myeloma.
You are your best advocate, so take charge of your own health. Because when it comes right down to it, we are just a statistic to doctors and researchers, never real people.
Take care.
I was just recently diagnosed with MGUS but it wasn't definitive until I got a bone marrow biopsy. The bone marrow biopsy is the only sure fire way to rule out MGUS and multiple myeloma completely. I'm too impatient and I wanted to know exactly what I was dealing with, so I asked my oncologist for a BMB, which he tried to talk me out of because he claimed it was "not medically necessary". I demanded he did one, and the results came back positive for MGUS and abnormal for myeloma panel and chromosomes with trisomies, etc, abnormal chromosomes.
So now I am scheduled to see a multiple myeloma specialist at New York's Mt. Sinai Cancer Center to have more tests done that should've been done in the first place if only to rule everything else out, including active myeloma.
You are your best advocate, so take charge of your own health. Because when it comes right down to it, we are just a statistic to doctors and researchers, never real people.
Take care.
Re: Abnormal lab test - sign of MGUS or multiple myeloma?
Thank you NYscienceteach! I am so confused with all of this.
I'm wondering, can a person still have MGUS or multiple myeloma with no monoclonal protein in blood or urine?
Also, I saw ortho doc today because of sudden onset of hip pain last night. Was diagnosed with trocanteric bursitis a lot of inflammation noted on X-ray with some bone spurs seen.
Should I worry, or is this just a coincidence?
Have follow-up appointment with hematologist to talk about next steps. She may still want to do a BMB.
I'm wondering, can a person still have MGUS or multiple myeloma with no monoclonal protein in blood or urine?
Also, I saw ortho doc today because of sudden onset of hip pain last night. Was diagnosed with trocanteric bursitis a lot of inflammation noted on X-ray with some bone spurs seen.
Should I worry, or is this just a coincidence?
Have follow-up appointment with hematologist to talk about next steps. She may still want to do a BMB.
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caajcbj - Name: Chevon
13 posts
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