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Immunoglobulin levels and myeloma cells
I have a question ... If your immunoglobulin levels go down, does that mean that the myeloma cells in your bone marrow go down?
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skolman - Name: susan kolman
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: Immunoglobulin levels and myeloma cells
Susan,
Quantified immunoglobulin tests that measure the IgG, IgA and IgM levels measure the combination of both your "healthy" immunoglobulin and unhealthy monoclonal levels. So a minor change in one of your immunoglobulins doesn't necessarily correspond to the same change in ones M-spike or bone marrow plasma percentage, but could instead be due to the normal fluctuation of the healthy immunoglobulin level. So,unless you have IgA-type multiple myeloma, it's generally better to follow the serum M-spike (in addition to all the other markers) to see how your disease is progressing.
Multiple myeloma is also a peculiar disease in that some people's bone marrow plasma cell activity only translates partially to their serum M-spike levels. And in some people, their myeloma-related bone marrow plasma cell activity doesn't translate to any presence of a serum M-spike or abnormal serum free light chain values.
I'm not a doc, but I think that excluding those situations I outlined above, one would expect that a big change either up or down in an M-spike would roughly correspond with a somewhat similar change in one's bone marrow plasma cell percentage. But also keep in mind that there is a fair amount of uncertainty in bone marrow plasma percentage measurements due to the fact that the disease isn't spread evenly throughout one's bone marrow.
I think the bottom line is that you always have to look at ALL the markers to see what is going on with multiple myeloma. And, if there is a big change in your disease, then that might justify getting a fresh bone marrow biopsy.
I hope this all makes sense to you. Let me know if it doesn't.
Quantified immunoglobulin tests that measure the IgG, IgA and IgM levels measure the combination of both your "healthy" immunoglobulin and unhealthy monoclonal levels. So a minor change in one of your immunoglobulins doesn't necessarily correspond to the same change in ones M-spike or bone marrow plasma percentage, but could instead be due to the normal fluctuation of the healthy immunoglobulin level. So,unless you have IgA-type multiple myeloma, it's generally better to follow the serum M-spike (in addition to all the other markers) to see how your disease is progressing.
Multiple myeloma is also a peculiar disease in that some people's bone marrow plasma cell activity only translates partially to their serum M-spike levels. And in some people, their myeloma-related bone marrow plasma cell activity doesn't translate to any presence of a serum M-spike or abnormal serum free light chain values.
I'm not a doc, but I think that excluding those situations I outlined above, one would expect that a big change either up or down in an M-spike would roughly correspond with a somewhat similar change in one's bone marrow plasma cell percentage. But also keep in mind that there is a fair amount of uncertainty in bone marrow plasma percentage measurements due to the fact that the disease isn't spread evenly throughout one's bone marrow.
I think the bottom line is that you always have to look at ALL the markers to see what is going on with multiple myeloma. And, if there is a big change in your disease, then that might justify getting a fresh bone marrow biopsy.
I hope this all makes sense to you. Let me know if it doesn't.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Immunoglobulin levels and myeloma cells
Thanks Multibilly. You always have good answers. I appreciate this. I understand.
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skolman - Name: susan kolman
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: Immunoglobulin levels and myeloma cells
My IgG went down to normal after a year of going up. M dpike went from .8 to .7, i am hoping this a trend. (Smm)
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normalg
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