I'm new to this site. My GP ordered a SPEP (serum protein electrophoresis) blood test after I had a high IgG and high Beta-2 Microglobulin results. Can you please tell me what you think of these results?
The goal was to find out if my antibodies were monoclonal or polyclonal. Does this test answer that question? Was the correct SPEP ordered? I go see a hemotologist / onocologist next Monday, but I'd like some answers before then.
Protein, Total Serum: 8.7 g/dL (high)
Protein Electro (units g/dL)
Albumin (PE) 4.0
Alpha-1: 0.2
Alpha-2: 0.6
Beta: 0.9
Gamma: 3.1 (high)
IgG Subclasses (units mg/dL)
IgG Subclass 1: 1092 (high)
IgG Subclass 2: 1641 (high)
IgG Subclass 3: 166
IgG Subclass 4: 18.2
IgG Serum: 3459 High
From my previous blood test:
Globulin: 4.8 G/DL (high)
Hemoglobin: 13.2 GM/DL
IgA Serum: <4 mg/dL
IgE Serum: 162 KU/L (slightly high)
IgG Serum: 3807 mg/dL (high)
Beta-2 Microglobulin 2.53 (high)
Thanks, Apple
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Re: Help reading SPEP blood test results
Hey Apple,
Welcome to the forum.
Look for a separate notation on the SPEP that would talk about a value of monoclonal protein (they might also call it M-protein, paraprotein, or M-spike). It may not be in the same section where your other values are listed and may be listed off to the side of the report. If you are looking at an online summary of the SPEP report, it may not include this key notation about the monoclonal protein ... so you may have to look at the original lab report, which you can request from the doctor's office.
Amongst other things, the SPEP measures the amount of the monoclonal protein in the blood (if present). A separate test called a serum immunofixation (IFE) tells you more definitively if there is monoclonal protein present in your blood and what kind of monoclonal protein it is (IgG kappa, IgG lambda, etc) ... but it won't tell you the amount of the monoclonal protein that may be present (which is what the SPEP does).
Note that if it does turn out to be monoclonal, you really want to seek out a hematologist who specializes in multiple myeloma.
Good luck with this and let us know how things turn out.
Welcome to the forum.
Look for a separate notation on the SPEP that would talk about a value of monoclonal protein (they might also call it M-protein, paraprotein, or M-spike). It may not be in the same section where your other values are listed and may be listed off to the side of the report. If you are looking at an online summary of the SPEP report, it may not include this key notation about the monoclonal protein ... so you may have to look at the original lab report, which you can request from the doctor's office.
Amongst other things, the SPEP measures the amount of the monoclonal protein in the blood (if present). A separate test called a serum immunofixation (IFE) tells you more definitively if there is monoclonal protein present in your blood and what kind of monoclonal protein it is (IgG kappa, IgG lambda, etc) ... but it won't tell you the amount of the monoclonal protein that may be present (which is what the SPEP does).
Note that if it does turn out to be monoclonal, you really want to seek out a hematologist who specializes in multiple myeloma.
Good luck with this and let us know how things turn out.
-
Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Help reading SPEP blood test results
Thanks for the quick reply Multibilly!
Unfortunately, no side note that you describe. The only note present says:
"Serum Protein Electrophoresis Interpretation: Pattern is consistent with chronic inflammation."
Apple
Unfortunately, no side note that you describe. The only note present says:
"Serum Protein Electrophoresis Interpretation: Pattern is consistent with chronic inflammation."
Apple
Re: Help reading SPEP blood test results
That's very likely good news, but your doc needs to say it for sure. Chronic inflammation can increase your IgG level (and therefore your total protein level). In general, a chronic inflammation condition is a much better diagnosis than multiple myeloma.
Good luck with your visit next week and I hope your doc can find the source of the inflammation.
Good luck with your visit next week and I hope your doc can find the source of the inflammation.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Help reading SPEP blood test results
I thought my doctor did the wrong test in looking just at the IgG subclasses. He was vague about monoclonal gammopathy in my visit with him, whether the blood tests showed I had it or not, but in a message I got from him later, he thinks I definitely have monoclonal gammopathy. The test ordered did not specifically look at monoclonal versus polyclonal gammopathy. I don't know if the IgG subclasses show that or not.
Re: Help reading SPEP blood test results
Hi Apple,
Well, your doc would know better than me (always vet any advice on this forum with your doc). If that is the case, there are a couple of things to consider for your follow up visit.
If you do have monoclonal protein present, you would want to get all of the tests listed in the Laboratory Tests section of this link:
http://myeloma.org/pdfs/IMF-U-TestResults-2011_f1web.pdf
If the additional lab tests show a monoclonal gammopathy, then you would consider a bone marrow biopsy and imaging next.
If you do end up having a diagnosis of some form of a monoclonal disorder, you would really want to seek out a hemotololgist/oncologist that specializes in multiple myeloma (this isn't somebody that just occasionally sees folks with multiple myeloma, but rather does research in the field and lives and breathes the disease on a daily basis). Folks on this forum can help you find an institution and/or doc based on the city you live in.
Well, your doc would know better than me (always vet any advice on this forum with your doc). If that is the case, there are a couple of things to consider for your follow up visit.
If you do have monoclonal protein present, you would want to get all of the tests listed in the Laboratory Tests section of this link:
http://myeloma.org/pdfs/IMF-U-TestResults-2011_f1web.pdf
If the additional lab tests show a monoclonal gammopathy, then you would consider a bone marrow biopsy and imaging next.
If you do end up having a diagnosis of some form of a monoclonal disorder, you would really want to seek out a hemotololgist/oncologist that specializes in multiple myeloma (this isn't somebody that just occasionally sees folks with multiple myeloma, but rather does research in the field and lives and breathes the disease on a daily basis). Folks on this forum can help you find an institution and/or doc based on the city you live in.
-
Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Help reading SPEP blood test results
I wanted to follow-up and let you all know what I found out. I went to a hematologist / oncologist. He took one look at my test results and said he didn't think I had monoclonal antibodies. He not only retested for that, but also tested for everything else it could possibly be.
Turns out I have polyclonal antibodies and it looks like I have an autoimmune disease, specifically Sjogren's syndrome.
I'm relieved to not have anything related to multiple myeloma, but the Sjogren's symptoms are not fun. I never realized how much I take my saliva for granted!
Well, off to a different forum!
Good luck with you all, Apple
Turns out I have polyclonal antibodies and it looks like I have an autoimmune disease, specifically Sjogren's syndrome.
I'm relieved to not have anything related to multiple myeloma, but the Sjogren's symptoms are not fun. I never realized how much I take my saliva for granted!
Well, off to a different forum!
Good luck with you all, Apple
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