My latest serum protein electrophoresis report included the following finding:
"There is a band of restricted electrophoretic mobility in the gamma region."
I have not seen this before. Do any of you know what it means?
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Re: Band of restricted electrophoretic mobility - meaning?
Hey Andrew,
This is just another way of saying that a likely m-spike was found in the gamma region. You would prove it's existence by conducting an immunofixation test.
This is just another way of saying that a likely m-spike was found in the gamma region. You would prove it's existence by conducting an immunofixation test.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Band of restricted electrophoretic mobility - meaning?
Just to add a bit to what Multibilly posted, I believe that if this sort of explanation is present in a serum protein electrophoresis report where no M-spike can be measured, then it means that a trace protein band was found that could be, but is not necessarily, a monoclonal protein.
In cases such as yours where there is a history of monoclonal gammopathy, I believe it is likely that the band is in fact a trace amount of monoclonal protein, even if no M-spike has been measured. But that may not be the case in people who have no history of a monoclonal gammopathy.
See this article:
Gwathmey, TM, et al, "Clinical Relevance of Trace Bands on Serum Electrophoresis in Patients Without a History of Gammopathy," Journal of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Mar 10 2015 (full text of article)
especially this paragraph, which suggests the language signifies the presence of a trace protein band:
"The study focused on identifying patients that had very low concentration abnormalities in serum, as outlined in Figure 1. For inclusion in the present study, both SPE and IFE results were required. In addition, serum immunofixation interpretations had to contain one or more of the following descriptive key words: Trace; Faint; Suspicious; Possible; Small; Questionable; Equivocal; “?lg”; Band of restricted mobility; Suggestive of; and Weak. These are heretofore referred to as trace/faint/suspicious (TFS) bands. "
Did you have a serum immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) and, if so, what did it say? Or was the language you quoted on the IFE report, not the SPEP?
(Disclaimer: I'm not a physician. What I've posted above is just my layperson's understanding.)
In cases such as yours where there is a history of monoclonal gammopathy, I believe it is likely that the band is in fact a trace amount of monoclonal protein, even if no M-spike has been measured. But that may not be the case in people who have no history of a monoclonal gammopathy.
See this article:
Gwathmey, TM, et al, "Clinical Relevance of Trace Bands on Serum Electrophoresis in Patients Without a History of Gammopathy," Journal of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Mar 10 2015 (full text of article)
especially this paragraph, which suggests the language signifies the presence of a trace protein band:
"The study focused on identifying patients that had very low concentration abnormalities in serum, as outlined in Figure 1. For inclusion in the present study, both SPE and IFE results were required. In addition, serum immunofixation interpretations had to contain one or more of the following descriptive key words: Trace; Faint; Suspicious; Possible; Small; Questionable; Equivocal; “?lg”; Band of restricted mobility; Suggestive of; and Weak. These are heretofore referred to as trace/faint/suspicious (TFS) bands. "
Did you have a serum immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) and, if so, what did it say? Or was the language you quoted on the IFE report, not the SPEP?
(Disclaimer: I'm not a physician. What I've posted above is just my layperson's understanding.)
Re: Band of restricted electrophoretic mobility - meaning?
Thanks to both of you. Here is some more information:
The rest of the SPEP report says: "Total serum protein and albumin concentrations are within normal limits. Please see concurrent serum immunotyping for further characterization."
The serum immunofixation report shows: "the known IgG kappa monoclonal immunoglobulin with an estimated serum concentration of 300 mg/dl, which is unchanged from the previously reported value of 300 mg/dl 12/28/2017."
Because the clone is different from the involved one at diagnosis, we continue to assume that this is secondary MGUS, particularly because for the better part of four years since this was first detected there have been no other signs of disease. This despite the labeling as a monoclonal immunoglobulin in the report.
The rest of the SPEP report says: "Total serum protein and albumin concentrations are within normal limits. Please see concurrent serum immunotyping for further characterization."
The serum immunofixation report shows: "the known IgG kappa monoclonal immunoglobulin with an estimated serum concentration of 300 mg/dl, which is unchanged from the previously reported value of 300 mg/dl 12/28/2017."
Because the clone is different from the involved one at diagnosis, we continue to assume that this is secondary MGUS, particularly because for the better part of four years since this was first detected there have been no other signs of disease. This despite the labeling as a monoclonal immunoglobulin in the report.
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goldmine848 - Name: Andrew
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 60
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