Hi all.
I am trying to figure out exactly what the term high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma means.
Does it mean that you have a high risk of progressing from smoldering to active (symptomatic) multiple myeloma, or does it mean that when you do progress, it will turn into high-risk (active) multiple myeloma?
Thanks.
Forums
5 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Re: What exactly does "high-risk" smoldering myeloma mean?
Hi,
I believe that high-risk smoldering myeloma means high risk of progression to symptomatic multiple myeloma.
There are several criteria for high risk. I have 2 of them
However, it is all individual, and it is very important to see the trends, especially M-protein and kappa-lambda ratio.
Good luck!
I believe that high-risk smoldering myeloma means high risk of progression to symptomatic multiple myeloma.
There are several criteria for high risk. I have 2 of them
- Relatively high free light chain kappa/lambda ratio ( >8 is considered high risk and mine is around 25-35)
- Immunoparesis (i.e., low uninvolved immunoglobulins; my multiple myeloma is IgG, and my IgA and IgM are both way lower than minimal range and trending down).
However, it is all individual, and it is very important to see the trends, especially M-protein and kappa-lambda ratio.
Good luck!
-
Dimamar - When were you/they diagnosed?: June, 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: What exactly does "high-risk" smoldering myeloma mean?
Hi,
My ratio is 68 as of my latest blood draw in January 2018. My smoldering multiple myeloma is IgA at 1492 (normal is 81-463 mg/dL). My IgM is slightly low at 32 mg/dL (normal is 48-271 mg/dL) and IgG is normal. Somewhere I thought I read that having a splenectomy often results in a depressed IgM level (I had a splenectomy several years ago). I do not have any out of range calcium, anemia, or renal issues, based on the labs. I was diagnosed with smoldering myeloma in December 2014, so it's a little over 3 years for me.
Good luck to you as well!
My ratio is 68 as of my latest blood draw in January 2018. My smoldering multiple myeloma is IgA at 1492 (normal is 81-463 mg/dL). My IgM is slightly low at 32 mg/dL (normal is 48-271 mg/dL) and IgG is normal. Somewhere I thought I read that having a splenectomy often results in a depressed IgM level (I had a splenectomy several years ago). I do not have any out of range calcium, anemia, or renal issues, based on the labs. I was diagnosed with smoldering myeloma in December 2014, so it's a little over 3 years for me.
Good luck to you as well!
Re: What exactly does "high-risk" smoldering myeloma mean?
Hi mdsz,
Do they track your M-protein (M-spike)?
So you appear to have IgA smoldering multiple myeloma, and given that your IgA is 1492 mg/dl, we can guess that your M-protein is about 1 g/dl, or a bit higher, but it's better if M-protein is tracked separately, along with IgA values.
IgA multiple myeloma is considered a higher risk, on average, than the IgG type, if I am not mistaken, but again, every case is individual.
Over the 3 years, how did your free light chain ratio and M-protein change?
Do they track your M-protein (M-spike)?
So you appear to have IgA smoldering multiple myeloma, and given that your IgA is 1492 mg/dl, we can guess that your M-protein is about 1 g/dl, or a bit higher, but it's better if M-protein is tracked separately, along with IgA values.
IgA multiple myeloma is considered a higher risk, on average, than the IgG type, if I am not mistaken, but again, every case is individual.
Over the 3 years, how did your free light chain ratio and M-protein change?
-
Dimamar - When were you/they diagnosed?: June, 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: What exactly does "high-risk" smoldering myeloma mean?
Dimamar,
Sorry I took so long to answer. As of January 8, 2018, I had IgA of 1492 mg/dL, compared with 1597 mg/dL on December 12, 2014, when I was first diagnosed with smoldering myeloma. My serum kappa free light chain is 538 mg/L as of January 8, 2018. Protein electrophoresis results from January 8, 2018 also show beta-2 globulin of 1.4 g.dL (M-spike?).
In December 2014 my kappa-lambda ratio was 49 and has slowly risen to its current level of 68. I cant find any M-spike results.
They did a bone marrow biopsy at the time and the results showed ~10% plasma cells, also that there were no genetic abnormalities seen. Hopefully things have not changed!
Sorry I took so long to answer. As of January 8, 2018, I had IgA of 1492 mg/dL, compared with 1597 mg/dL on December 12, 2014, when I was first diagnosed with smoldering myeloma. My serum kappa free light chain is 538 mg/L as of January 8, 2018. Protein electrophoresis results from January 8, 2018 also show beta-2 globulin of 1.4 g.dL (M-spike?).
In December 2014 my kappa-lambda ratio was 49 and has slowly risen to its current level of 68. I cant find any M-spike results.
They did a bone marrow biopsy at the time and the results showed ~10% plasma cells, also that there were no genetic abnormalities seen. Hopefully things have not changed!
5 posts
• Page 1 of 1