[mishmosh]

Change in protein electrophoresis results - significance?

by mishmosh on Mon Jan 12, 2015 11:16 am

I was diagnosed with smoldering myeloma a year ago exactly. I did a blood and 24-hour urine test yesterday and just got back some results that I am worried about.

Previous protein electrophoresis have shown everything (% albumin, % alpha1, % alpha2, % beta, % gamma) to be in the normal range.

My latest result shows a lower than normal albumin and a higher than normal beta and gamma:

% Albumin 49.3 (normal 60-71)
% Alpha1 2.3 (in normal range)
% Alpha2 12.0 (in normal range)
% Beta 15.3 (normal range 8-12)
% Gamma 21.1 (normal range 10-18)

How bad is this development? Could feeling unwell when I did the test have any input? Any other ideas? Do other smolderers have protein electrophoresis results that are out of the norm (or in the norm, or changing)?

[Multibilly]

Re: Change in protein electrophoresis results - significance

by Multibilly on Mon Jan 12, 2015 12:30 pm

Mishmosh,

If you just want to get a quick snapshot of how things are going from a monoclonal protein activity perspective, I might suggest to look at and compare the history of lab values for the following:

• M-spike (aka paraprotein, monoclonal protein, M-protein, etc) number that you will find on your Serum Protein Electrophoresis (SPEP) lab.
• Serum free light chain values and free light chain ratio.
• Involved serum immunoglobulin level

All of us smolderers have various protein levels that are out of whack due to the presence of monoclonal protein in our blood. As a normal course of events, some of our protein values will fluctuate up and down over time, especially if you are smoldering. I wouldn't try to read much into just a UPEP result without looking at the other lab tests as well.

[mishmosh]

Re: Change in protein electrophoresis results - significance

by mishmosh on Wed Jan 14, 2015 4:57 am

Thanks Multibilly,

I am IgA lambda. My IgA is in the normal range and stable. I haven't got back the test for lambda this time, but 2 months ago it was 243 (normal 5.7-26) and showed a slight increase from previous tests. My ratio is stable at 0.05.

[Multibilly]

Re: Change in protein electrophoresis results - significance

by Multibilly on Wed Jan 14, 2015 8:47 am

So you have IgA-type multiple myeloma? You may want to ask your doc about the new Hevylite test and see if he/she has access to it. It can be quite useful for monitoring IgA-type multiple myeloma.