Hope somebody can show tell me where my thought process is going wrong?
The IgM protein is the bigger of the proteins and therefore develops the slowest (that's if my understanding is correct).
Well, why is the risk of progression higher for IgM MGUS vs the other?
Just out of interest.
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Aussie - Name: Assue
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Nil
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 37
Re: Risk of progression with IgM MGUS
Hi Aussie,
I'm not sure I would say that the immunoglobulin with the largest value (that is, your "involved" immunoglobulin) will "develop the slowest". Your other "univolved" immunogloubin (IgA, IgG, etc) levels and your "involved" IgM level can move in different directions and at completely different rates. In fact, it's not uncommon for one's uninvolved immunoglobulins to slowly become lower over time, while the involved immunoglobulin increases over time.
There are lots of special considerations when it comes to IgM-related disorders. The article I mention in this posting touches on those considerations and also speaks to the risk-of-progression being higher for IgM-related disorders.
As to why IgM and IgA disorders have a higher risk-of-progression, I don't know the answer to that question. But it has been observed in several studies over time.
I'm not sure I would say that the immunoglobulin with the largest value (that is, your "involved" immunoglobulin) will "develop the slowest". Your other "univolved" immunogloubin (IgA, IgG, etc) levels and your "involved" IgM level can move in different directions and at completely different rates. In fact, it's not uncommon for one's uninvolved immunoglobulins to slowly become lower over time, while the involved immunoglobulin increases over time.
There are lots of special considerations when it comes to IgM-related disorders. The article I mention in this posting touches on those considerations and also speaks to the risk-of-progression being higher for IgM-related disorders.
As to why IgM and IgA disorders have a higher risk-of-progression, I don't know the answer to that question. But it has been observed in several studies over time.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Risk of progression with IgM MGUS
Thanks. Just read something about IgM being the largest and it just did not click when I read it.
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Aussie - Name: Assue
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Nil
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 37
Re: Risk of progression with IgM MGUS
I thought that was a good question.
I looked up “IgM’ on Wikipedia and discovered that besides being larger than the other immunoglobulins, IgM also has an abundance of non-covalent binding sites (high avidity). No doubt it is the abundance of these binding sites that helps the IgM molecules bind to diverse antigens.
So there are at least two things that distinguish IgM from the other immunoglobulins: size and avidity.
Like you, I find the biology behind myeloma most fascinating. The bio processes themselves are of interest in their own right.
Joe
I looked up “IgM’ on Wikipedia and discovered that besides being larger than the other immunoglobulins, IgM also has an abundance of non-covalent binding sites (high avidity). No doubt it is the abundance of these binding sites that helps the IgM molecules bind to diverse antigens.
So there are at least two things that distinguish IgM from the other immunoglobulins: size and avidity.
Like you, I find the biology behind myeloma most fascinating. The bio processes themselves are of interest in their own right.
Joe
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Wobbles - Name: Joe
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 67
Re: Risk of progression with IgM MGUS
Thank you. My haematologist just told me that because of the IgM we will clearly see how it develops over time because of the size. started reading up as 1 + 1 did not add up.
Well I was never any good in biology at school, but like you found it very interesting.
Well I was never any good in biology at school, but like you found it very interesting.
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Aussie - Name: Assue
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Nil
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 37
5 posts
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