Hi everyone, I am new to this site and a bit confused.
I am 40 years old and I have a history of back pain, pelvic tilt-lumbar scoliosis, and lately was diagnosed with Syringomyelia (cyst in the spinal cord 2mm from T6-T12). I also have neuropathic pain in my upper back-shoulders and was on Amitriptyline and Cymbalta medication.
Two weeks ago I had some blood and urine tests done and I am very confused about my results. My family doctor is not concerned at all and she did not want me to repeat the tests as she is telling me that my pain is coming from the syrinx and nothing else.
Could you please, if anyone would know how to read my test result as it is not clear for me and I can not get any help from my GP :
random urine test:
GAMMOPATHY SCREEN R U
PROTEIN URINE 0.36
Interpretation
No Free Light Chains observed by Immunofixation.
Chemical Urinalysis
Protein 0.3A -should be negativ
My Protein Electrophoresis is all good, total protein is 78 and my Albumin is little high at 55.
My ANA is also positive 1.60 Hemagenous pattern but all other rheumatoid tests are negativ.
Could anyone tell me if the protein found in Gammopathy Screen is actually M protein and does it mean that I have MGUS? My latest MRI was done in October but all they are looking for is the Syrinx and but can clearly see a low signal lesion on one of my vertebarae and it is bigger than it was a year ago.
Thank you for any suggestions.
Edit.
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Edit - Name: Edit
- Who do you know with myeloma?: nobody
- When were you/they diagnosed?: not diagnosed yet
- Age at diagnosis: 40
Re: Is it MGUS?
Take a look at this link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_myeloma#Diagnostic_criteria
It might help. I would say a bone marrow biopsy might be in order. The criteria on the web page is pretty clear.
Good Luck
Art
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_myeloma#Diagnostic_criteria
It might help. I would say a bone marrow biopsy might be in order. The criteria on the web page is pretty clear.
Good Luck
Art
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Art - Name: Art
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 12/2011
- Age at diagnosis: 40
Re: Is it MGUS?
Thank you Art for your answer.
Edit.
Edit.
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Edit - Name: Edit
- Who do you know with myeloma?: nobody
- When were you/they diagnosed?: not diagnosed yet
- Age at diagnosis: 40
Re: Is it MGUS?
Sorry to bother again, but now I am even more confused 
I still don`t know what kind of protein I have in my urine under the Gammopathy Screen, is it M protein or Bence Jones? Because I know that my GP asked for Bence Jones protein test but she did not specify the 24h. test, so I had just a random urine test. I am sooo confused... I am sorry but I am desperate for answers and some peace of mind, can anyone tell?
Thank you,
Edit.
I still don`t know what kind of protein I have in my urine under the Gammopathy Screen, is it M protein or Bence Jones? Because I know that my GP asked for Bence Jones protein test but she did not specify the 24h. test, so I had just a random urine test. I am sooo confused... I am sorry but I am desperate for answers and some peace of mind, can anyone tell?Thank you,
Edit.
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Edit - Name: Edit
- Who do you know with myeloma?: nobody
- When were you/they diagnosed?: not diagnosed yet
- Age at diagnosis: 40
Re: Is it MGUS?
Hello from sunny Seattle !...........today at least
The laboratory tests you have posted are not completely clear to me. To determine if you have MGUS the following tests should be done. What doctors are looking for is an "m-spike" (monoclonal gammopathy) or an increase in the secretion of a protein by abnormal plasma cells.
#1. Serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) - it sounds like your SPEP did not have an m-spike so it is normal.
#2. 24 hour urine for Bence Jones proteins (light chains)- This test is often called a UPEP. A spot urine or random urine (meaning you urinate in a cup while you are at the doctors office) is not adequate. If your GP is concerned at all about MGUS, SMM or myeloma your urine must be collected for a full 24 hours (the patient urinates in a plastic jug for a full 24 hours at home) and then analyzed in the laboratory. It looks like your urine test did not have light chains althuogh there was some of protein in the urine. It is common to see some protein in urine but to assess if amount of protein is normal or abnormal a 24 hour urine test for Bence Jones proteins and albumen must be performed. Unfortunately a random urine sample is not adequate to test for MGUS, SMM or myeloma.
#3. Serum free light chain analysis- in large part this test is replacing the 24 hour urine test.
One does not have to have all three tests but the SPEP is mandatory. A patient can have either a 24 hour urine for Bence Jones proteins (UPEP) or a serum free light chain test (Freelight). For screening purposes it is not necessary to have both the 24 hour urine and the serum free light chain testing.
Best of luck with all of this!
The laboratory tests you have posted are not completely clear to me. To determine if you have MGUS the following tests should be done. What doctors are looking for is an "m-spike" (monoclonal gammopathy) or an increase in the secretion of a protein by abnormal plasma cells.
#1. Serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) - it sounds like your SPEP did not have an m-spike so it is normal.
#2. 24 hour urine for Bence Jones proteins (light chains)- This test is often called a UPEP. A spot urine or random urine (meaning you urinate in a cup while you are at the doctors office) is not adequate. If your GP is concerned at all about MGUS, SMM or myeloma your urine must be collected for a full 24 hours (the patient urinates in a plastic jug for a full 24 hours at home) and then analyzed in the laboratory. It looks like your urine test did not have light chains althuogh there was some of protein in the urine. It is common to see some protein in urine but to assess if amount of protein is normal or abnormal a 24 hour urine test for Bence Jones proteins and albumen must be performed. Unfortunately a random urine sample is not adequate to test for MGUS, SMM or myeloma.
#3. Serum free light chain analysis- in large part this test is replacing the 24 hour urine test.
One does not have to have all three tests but the SPEP is mandatory. A patient can have either a 24 hour urine for Bence Jones proteins (UPEP) or a serum free light chain test (Freelight). For screening purposes it is not necessary to have both the 24 hour urine and the serum free light chain testing.
Best of luck with all of this!
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Dr. Edward Libby - Name: Edward Libby, M.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
Re: Is it MGUS?
Thank you Dr Libby for your clear answer, thank you so much!!! I will go and ask my GP to do the correct test for me.
Edit.
Edit.
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Edit - Name: Edit
- Who do you know with myeloma?: nobody
- When were you/they diagnosed?: not diagnosed yet
- Age at diagnosis: 40
Re: Is it MGUS?
Hi everyone,
could you please help me again to understand these new test results as I am lost...
I asked for the Bence Jones 24h urine test and was refused many many times by my Gp. Last month I was finally able to do some lab work in Europe. Today I received the results via email and I am more confused than ever
IgG level: 1091mg/dl normal: 700-1600
IgM level 269.7mg/dl normal: 40-230
IgE level 6.59 Ul/mL
Serum Electrophoresis with Immunofixation:
Serum Monoclonal band IgG, IgA, IgM: absent.
Serum Monoclonal chain Kappa and Lambda: absent
Lambda free light chain urine: 3.88 mg/l normal: < 3.9
Kappa free light chain in urine 6.66 mg/l normal: < 7.1
Lambda free light chain in serum: 6.3 mg/l normal: 5.7-26.3
Kappa free light chain in serum: 2.7 mg/l normal: 0.26-1.65
Kappa/Lambda ratio 0.4 Normal: 0.26-1.65
Any feedback is much appreciated and thank you in advance !!!
could you please help me again to understand these new test results as I am lost...
I asked for the Bence Jones 24h urine test and was refused many many times by my Gp. Last month I was finally able to do some lab work in Europe. Today I received the results via email and I am more confused than ever
IgG level: 1091mg/dl normal: 700-1600
IgM level 269.7mg/dl normal: 40-230
IgE level 6.59 Ul/mL
Serum Electrophoresis with Immunofixation:
Serum Monoclonal band IgG, IgA, IgM: absent.
Serum Monoclonal chain Kappa and Lambda: absent
Lambda free light chain urine: 3.88 mg/l normal: < 3.9
Kappa free light chain in urine 6.66 mg/l normal: < 7.1
Lambda free light chain in serum: 6.3 mg/l normal: 5.7-26.3
Kappa free light chain in serum: 2.7 mg/l normal: 0.26-1.65
Kappa/Lambda ratio 0.4 Normal: 0.26-1.65
Any feedback is much appreciated and thank you in advance !!!
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Edit - Name: Edit
- Who do you know with myeloma?: nobody
- When were you/they diagnosed?: not diagnosed yet
- Age at diagnosis: 40
7 posts
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