[Thelimeusa]

What is a really high IgG level in multiple myeloma?

by Thelimeusa on Thu Jan 12, 2017 6:31 pm

Just wondering what is the highest the IgG level can go in people with multiple myeloma. My wife is at 3304 mg/dL (3.304 g/dL, or 33.04 g/l), and I am not sure how much higher it can go.

We are hoping bendamustine (Treanda) will bring the IgG level down before an allogeneic stem cell transplant.

[goldmine848]

Re: What is a really high IgG level in multiple myeloma?

by goldmine848 on Thu Jan 12, 2017 9:20 pm

Many of us have had much higher IgG levels at the time of diagnosis. For example, mine was 5900. If the induction treatment that your wife is getting is effective, you can expect the IgG level to come down in tandem with her M-spike.

[TerryH]

Re: What is a really high IgG level in multiple myeloma?

by TerryH on Fri Jan 13, 2017 12:38 pm

Hi Lime,

Your wife's IgG level is made up of two parts -- her healthy / normal IgG, and her myeloma (monoclonal) IgG. In equation form:

IgG = normal IgG + monoclonal IgG

How much monoclonal IgG she has is exactly what is measured by her M-spike.

So if someone has IgG multiple myeloma and they have an M-spike of 4.5 g/dL (4500 mg/dL), then their total IgG will be at least 4500 mg/dL.

I say all this because, if you look at this survey that was done of M-spikes people had at diagnosis,

https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/weekly-poll-m-spike-at-diagnosis-2014-t3136.html

you'll see that many people had M-spikes of more than 3.5 g/dL (3500 mg/dL). Now, not all of these people had IgG multiple myeloma. But many of them did, meaning many of them had IgG levels at diagnosis above 3500 mg/dL.

Good luck!