Hi my name is Donna and I am 56 years old.
I am new to all this. After a visit with my doctor for fatigue, general aches in my body, and chronic dry eyes, nose and mouth, and head aches. She referred me to a rheumatologist.
After some blood work and x-rays, he said I have osteoporosis in my shoulders and vasculitis.
He said that my blood showed low wbc and an ill-defined gamma gobulin band and referred me to a hematologist. He mentioned multiple myeloma in passing, but wanted to retest.
My blood work showed low platelets and a faint ill defined band of lgG type kappa.
Can anyone shed some light on this. All other blood work was normal.
Thanks
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Re: Low platelets, faint ill-defined band IgG kappa?
Hi Donna,
Welcome to the forum.
I wasn't clear from your post if you had already seen a hematologist or not?
The results you quoted about the IgG type kappa band sound like they came from a serum immunofixation test.
Did the doctor also run a serum free light chain test, serum protein electrophoresis, and a quantified immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, IgM) test and do you know those test results?
Also, you say your platelet level and WBC were low, but your hemoglobin, red blood cell, hematocrit, calcium and creatine levels are all OK?
Welcome to the forum.
I wasn't clear from your post if you had already seen a hematologist or not?
The results you quoted about the IgG type kappa band sound like they came from a serum immunofixation test.
Did the doctor also run a serum free light chain test, serum protein electrophoresis, and a quantified immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, IgM) test and do you know those test results?
Also, you say your platelet level and WBC were low, but your hemoglobin, red blood cell, hematocrit, calcium and creatine levels are all OK?
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Low platelets, faint ill-defined band IgG kappa?
Thank you for your reply.
Yes my RBC was good and creatinine and calcium levels were all good.
lgG 7.62
lgA 1.46
lgM 1.22
Yes I did see a hematologist and I have a follow up with him in a couple of weeks.
Yes my RBC was good and creatinine and calcium levels were all good.
lgG 7.62
lgA 1.46
lgM 1.22
Yes I did see a hematologist and I have a follow up with him in a couple of weeks.
Re: Low platelets, faint ill-defined band IgG kappa?
Hmmmm, your immunoglobulin levels are all normal and you only have a faint IgG kappa band, so nothing is screaming that you have a typical plasma cell disorder. Sounds like getting re-tested in a couple of weeks makes a lot of sense. I might suggest asking for a serum free light chain assay test to complete the picture wrt testing for multiple myeloma. Maybe some sort of viral infection might be to blame your symptoms? Let us know how things turn out.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Low platelets, faint ill-defined band IgG kappa?
Hi Donna,
Welcome to the forum.
The IgG, IgM, IgA numbers you posted all appear to be in a normal range. That's great news!
As Multibilly mentioned, asking for serum free light chain assay would help understanding the issues with regard to multiple myeloma.
As far a fatigue is concerned, your hemoglobin number is a good thing to watch. Also a SPEP
test is nice to have. These are what the test results are displayed as:
I'm very proud of these numbers by the way! Janet is doing very well!
IMMUNOFIXATION ELECTROPHORESIS, SERUM
Final result (05/04/2016 12:00 PM)
Immunofixation Electrophoresis, Serum - Negative
Comment: No paraproteins present.
Interpretation by Pathologist: - - -, M.D.
PROTEIN ELECTROPHORESIS, SERUM
Final result (05/04/2016 12:00 PM)
Total Protein 6.6 6.0 - 8.1 g/dL
Prot Electrophoresis - Normal pattern.
Comment: Normal pattern on serum protein electrophoresis
Interpretation by Pathologist: - - -, M.D.
Normal pattern.
Albumin, SPEP 4.24 3.75 - 5.01 g/dL
Alpha 1 Globulin 0.24 0.19 - 0.46 g/dL
Alpha 2 Globulin 0.63 0.48 - 1.05 g/dL
Beta Globulin 0.75 0.48 - 1.10 g/dL
Gamma Globulin 0.73 0.62 - 1.51 g/dL
Paraprotein Concentration Negative Negative g/dL
Donna,
The key thing about multiple myeloma is that it is normally one of the immunoglobulins gone wild and crowding out all the other blood functions. Your numbers look great!
As an example, Janet's IgG number had exploded to 48.8 and the rest dropped to close to zero before we got it under control (12 months ago).
Best of luck!
Welcome to the forum.
The IgG, IgM, IgA numbers you posted all appear to be in a normal range. That's great news!
As Multibilly mentioned, asking for serum free light chain assay would help understanding the issues with regard to multiple myeloma.
As far a fatigue is concerned, your hemoglobin number is a good thing to watch. Also a SPEP
test is nice to have. These are what the test results are displayed as:
I'm very proud of these numbers by the way! Janet is doing very well!
IMMUNOFIXATION ELECTROPHORESIS, SERUM
Final result (05/04/2016 12:00 PM)
Immunofixation Electrophoresis, Serum - Negative
Comment: No paraproteins present.
Interpretation by Pathologist: - - -, M.D.
PROTEIN ELECTROPHORESIS, SERUM
Final result (05/04/2016 12:00 PM)
Total Protein 6.6 6.0 - 8.1 g/dL
Prot Electrophoresis - Normal pattern.
Comment: Normal pattern on serum protein electrophoresis
Interpretation by Pathologist: - - -, M.D.
Normal pattern.
Albumin, SPEP 4.24 3.75 - 5.01 g/dL
Alpha 1 Globulin 0.24 0.19 - 0.46 g/dL
Alpha 2 Globulin 0.63 0.48 - 1.05 g/dL
Beta Globulin 0.75 0.48 - 1.10 g/dL
Gamma Globulin 0.73 0.62 - 1.51 g/dL
Paraprotein Concentration Negative Negative g/dL
Donna,
The key thing about multiple myeloma is that it is normally one of the immunoglobulins gone wild and crowding out all the other blood functions. Your numbers look great!
As an example, Janet's IgG number had exploded to 48.8 and the rest dropped to close to zero before we got it under control (12 months ago).
Best of luck!
-
JohnBoy5456 - Name: John
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Janet
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 6/15/15
- Age at diagnosis: 64
Re: Low platelets, faint ill-defined band IgG kappa?
Thank you for your comments. I am feeling a bit more positive 
Re: Low platelets, faint ill-defined band IgG kappa?
Just been back to see hematologist. We spoke about MGUS.,He wants me to go to the hospital in 6 months for more accurate blood tests.
In the meantime, family doctor ordered CT scan for a spot on my spine. I have a benign lesion on my spine; it is causing me pain. Advised my hemo about this. And will follow up with my doctor who doesn't give me much info about the lesion
Was wondering if this lesion could have something to do with the MGUS?
Any info would be appreciated.
In the meantime, family doctor ordered CT scan for a spot on my spine. I have a benign lesion on my spine; it is causing me pain. Advised my hemo about this. And will follow up with my doctor who doesn't give me much info about the lesion
Was wondering if this lesion could have something to do with the MGUS?
Any info would be appreciated.
Re: Low platelets, faint ill-defined band IgG kappa?
Hi Dawna,
I'm not a doc, but I think I would want to verify that the lesion is indeed benign when you see the hematologist. CT scans are great at detecting lesions, but they don't differentiate as well as a PET/CT between benign and cancerous cells. On the other hand, a PET/CT can quickly highlight any cancerous areas in a lesion.
I'm not a doc, but I think I would want to verify that the lesion is indeed benign when you see the hematologist. CT scans are great at detecting lesions, but they don't differentiate as well as a PET/CT between benign and cancerous cells. On the other hand, a PET/CT can quickly highlight any cancerous areas in a lesion.
Last edited by Multibilly on Fri Jun 17, 2016 8:11 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Low platelets, faint ill-defined band IgG kappa?
Thank you. I will discuss this with my family doctor this week, as my hematologist is an hour from me and I am not expected to see him for 6 months. I hope she can order more tests without seeing the specialist.
Thank you for replying so quickly. Very stressful
Thank you for replying so quickly. Very stressful
9 posts
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