Hello Everyone,
Well, almost coming close to a year since my husband's diagnosis, we visited our oncologist today and we are still smoldering but I have a question please. My husband has had mild renal insufficiency since he was a young child. The doctors are aware of this and are keeping a close eye on the numbers. But perhaps someone can help me understand this. My husband will be 70 in October
Kappa free light chain 29.5
Lambda free light chain 12.8
Kappa-lambda ratio 2.31
Creatinine 2.4
GFR 29
Now this is what I do not understand. His M-spike is 1.21 g/dL, which is lower then the 2.14 g/dL back in November 2014!
BMB done in November 2014: 10%. PET scan: no lesions. No anemia.
So can anyone please help me to understand?
Thanks and many blessings.
Forums
7 posts
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Re: M-spike lower than 7 months ago - how possible?
Hi Mildred,
That's great that your husband's M-spike has declined.
What sort of M-spike readings has he had between his first reading and the most recent one?
Also, what type of smoldering myeloma does he have? IgG? IgA?
The type of smoldering myeloma should be reported on the lab test described as "Serum Immunofixation", in the interpretation section. You also can often tell from the results of the immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, and IgM) tests -- the immunoglobulin that is above the normal range is probably the one that is your husband's "type".
That's great that your husband's M-spike has declined.
What sort of M-spike readings has he had between his first reading and the most recent one?
Also, what type of smoldering myeloma does he have? IgG? IgA?
The type of smoldering myeloma should be reported on the lab test described as "Serum Immunofixation", in the interpretation section. You also can often tell from the results of the immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, and IgM) tests -- the immunoglobulin that is above the normal range is probably the one that is your husband's "type".
Re: M-spike lower than 7 months ago - how possible?
Terry,
Thank you so much for answering . My husband is IgG kappa light chain. Your question concerning the type of M-spike testing, I assume you mean serum (blood work), am I correct in assuming this?
M-spikes:
November 2014 1.55 g/dL
January 2015 1.60
February 2015 1.64
April 2015 1.49
July 2015 1.21
Thank you again for your help.
Thank you so much for answering . My husband is IgG kappa light chain. Your question concerning the type of M-spike testing, I assume you mean serum (blood work), am I correct in assuming this?
M-spikes:
November 2014 1.55 g/dL
January 2015 1.60
February 2015 1.64
April 2015 1.49
July 2015 1.21
Thank you again for your help.
Re: M-spike lower than 7 months ago - how possible?
Hi Mildred,
You say that your husband's M-spike was 2.14 g/dL last November, but then, in the M-spikes you listed above, you say that it was 1.55 g/dL. Did he have two M-spike tests in November and, if so, were both M-spike tests done using blood samples, or did one use a urine sample and one a blood test?
You say that your husband's M-spike was 2.14 g/dL last November, but then, in the M-spikes you listed above, you say that it was 1.55 g/dL. Did he have two M-spike tests in November and, if so, were both M-spike tests done using blood samples, or did one use a urine sample and one a blood test?
-
JimNY
Re: M-spike lower than 7 months ago - how possible?
Hi Jim,
Thank you for responding. Unfortunately, I made a mistake (typo). His M-spike was 1.55 g/dL in November 2014. All of these numbers listed came from his blood.
What do you think?
Thank you for responding. Unfortunately, I made a mistake (typo). His M-spike was 1.55 g/dL in November 2014. All of these numbers listed came from his blood.
What do you think?
Re: M-spike lower than 7 months ago - how possible?
Hi Mildred,
It looks like your husband's M-spike is stable. Yes, it's bouncing around a bit, but M-spike measurements are subject to some error -- maybe 0.1 or 0.2 g/dL in either direction of the "true" M-spike -- and natural functioning of the body also can probably lead to some fluctuation in the result.
Just as an example, you can look at Multibilly's M-spike results over about two years time in this forum thread:
https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/fenofibrate-tricor-and-multiple-myeloma-t2690-40.html
You'll see that, even during a period where the M-spike was basically level, on average, it varied from a high of 2.36 g/dL to a low of 1.90 g/dL. That's an even bigger variation than what your husband has experienced.
If you're able to do it, it's worth tracking and plotting the same sort of test results Multibilly has posted in the thread I mention above. Graphs really help you figure out whether a new test result is really very different from previous results, or just normal fluctuation in the results. Graphs also will help you see whether or not there are any trends in the results.
Good luck!
It looks like your husband's M-spike is stable. Yes, it's bouncing around a bit, but M-spike measurements are subject to some error -- maybe 0.1 or 0.2 g/dL in either direction of the "true" M-spike -- and natural functioning of the body also can probably lead to some fluctuation in the result.
Just as an example, you can look at Multibilly's M-spike results over about two years time in this forum thread:
https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/fenofibrate-tricor-and-multiple-myeloma-t2690-40.html
You'll see that, even during a period where the M-spike was basically level, on average, it varied from a high of 2.36 g/dL to a low of 1.90 g/dL. That's an even bigger variation than what your husband has experienced.
If you're able to do it, it's worth tracking and plotting the same sort of test results Multibilly has posted in the thread I mention above. Graphs really help you figure out whether a new test result is really very different from previous results, or just normal fluctuation in the results. Graphs also will help you see whether or not there are any trends in the results.
Good luck!
7 posts
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