Can anyone explain or help me understand what these test results may mean? Thank you so much!
Protein Electrophoresis, Serum, With Reflex
Total Protein, Serum Electrophoresis 6.5
Albumin ELP 53.3
Alpha-1-Globulin 8.3
Alpha-2-Globulin 11.9
Beta Globulin 8.3
Beta 2 5.3
Gamma Globulin 12.9
M-SPIKE, % NOT DET
SPE Interp. * Nonspecific pattern
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Re: Meaning of serum protein electrophoresis results?
Hello Smama:
There are slight differences in terminology from center to center, so its hard to know what exactly some things mean, and you need to ask your doctor. However, non-detect for M Spike looks good to me. Good luck.
There are slight differences in terminology from center to center, so its hard to know what exactly some things mean, and you need to ask your doctor. However, non-detect for M Spike looks good to me. Good luck.
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JPC - Name: JPC
Re: Meaning of serum protein electrophoresis results?
Hi SMAMA,
May I ask why your doctor ran a serum protein electrophoresis test?
Not having an M-spike simply means that no monoclonal (abnormal) protein was measured in your blood - but having no M-spike doesn't necessarily rule out all types of multiple myeloma (if a suspicion of multiple myeloma is the reason you got the electrophoresis test in the first place).
May I ask why your doctor ran a serum protein electrophoresis test?
Not having an M-spike simply means that no monoclonal (abnormal) protein was measured in your blood - but having no M-spike doesn't necessarily rule out all types of multiple myeloma (if a suspicion of multiple myeloma is the reason you got the electrophoresis test in the first place).
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Meaning of serum protein electrophoresis results?
Thanks for response.
My doctor is looking for possible suspicion of multiple myeloma is the reason you got the electrophoresis test due to bone pain. He also ordered other tests, as well, to try to find out what is going on.
Protein Electrophoresis, Serum, With Reflex
Tot Protein, Serum Electrophor. 6.0 - 8.3 g/dL 6.5
Albumin ELP 55.8 - 66.1 % 53.3
Alpha-1-Globulin 2.9 - 4.9 % 8.3
Alpha-2-Globulin 7.1 - 11.8 % 11.9
Beta Globulin 4.7 - 7.2 % 8.3
Beta 2 3.2 - 6.5 % 5.3
Gamma Globulin 11.1 - 18.8 % 12.9
M-SPIKE, % NOT DET
SPE Interp. *COMMENT (PROTEIN ELECTROPHOR)
Sedimentation Rate
Sed Rate 0 - 22 mm/hr 36
Iron And TIBC CHCC
Iron 41 - 142 ug/dL 44
TIBC 236 - 444 ug/dL 416
UIBC 120 - 384 ug/dL 373
%SAT 21 - 57 % 10
Ferritin CHCC
Ferritin 9 - 269 ng/ml 14
My doctor is looking for possible suspicion of multiple myeloma is the reason you got the electrophoresis test due to bone pain. He also ordered other tests, as well, to try to find out what is going on.
Protein Electrophoresis, Serum, With Reflex
Tot Protein, Serum Electrophor. 6.0 - 8.3 g/dL 6.5
Albumin ELP 55.8 - 66.1 % 53.3
Alpha-1-Globulin 2.9 - 4.9 % 8.3
Alpha-2-Globulin 7.1 - 11.8 % 11.9
Beta Globulin 4.7 - 7.2 % 8.3
Beta 2 3.2 - 6.5 % 5.3
Gamma Globulin 11.1 - 18.8 % 12.9
M-SPIKE, % NOT DET
SPE Interp. *COMMENT (PROTEIN ELECTROPHOR)
Sedimentation Rate
Sed Rate 0 - 22 mm/hr 36
Iron And TIBC CHCC
Iron 41 - 142 ug/dL 44
TIBC 236 - 444 ug/dL 416
UIBC 120 - 384 ug/dL 373
%SAT 21 - 57 % 10
Ferritin CHCC
Ferritin 9 - 269 ng/ml 14
Re: Meaning of serum protein electrophoresis results?
There are two other key lab tests you would want to look at it if trying to eliminate the possibility of multiple myeloma.
One would be a serum immunofixation test (this is a blood test that would detect the presence of monoclonal protein in any quantity, but would not measure it.
The other would be what is known as a serum free light chain assay test.
If both of these tests came up with normal results, then chances are quite high that you would not have multiple myeloma. But only your doctor can make that determination.
Good luck and let us know how things turn out.
One would be a serum immunofixation test (this is a blood test that would detect the presence of monoclonal protein in any quantity, but would not measure it.
The other would be what is known as a serum free light chain assay test.
If both of these tests came up with normal results, then chances are quite high that you would not have multiple myeloma. But only your doctor can make that determination.
Good luck and let us know how things turn out.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Meaning of serum protein electrophoresis results?
Tests that are elevated:
Alpha-1-Globulin - 2.9 - 4.9 % (mine - 8.3)
Alpha-2-Globulin - 7.1 - 11.8 % (mine - 11.9)
Beta Globulin - 4.7 - 7.2 % (mine - 8.3)
Sed Rate - 0 - 22 mm/hr (mine - 36)
Tests that are low
%SAT - 21 - 57 % (mine - 10)
Albumin ELP - 55.8 - 66.1 % (mine -53.3)
There a lot that are border high/low.
Just very confusing. Is this something I need to be concerned with or normal to have this type of results?
Thank you so much! Blessings!
Alpha-1-Globulin - 2.9 - 4.9 % (mine - 8.3)
Alpha-2-Globulin - 7.1 - 11.8 % (mine - 11.9)
Beta Globulin - 4.7 - 7.2 % (mine - 8.3)
Sed Rate - 0 - 22 mm/hr (mine - 36)
Tests that are low
%SAT - 21 - 57 % (mine - 10)
Albumin ELP - 55.8 - 66.1 % (mine -53.3)
There a lot that are border high/low.
Just very confusing. Is this something I need to be concerned with or normal to have this type of results?
Thank you so much! Blessings!
Re: Meaning of serum protein electrophoresis results?
Your SED rate is fairly high, which could be caused by an infection, inflammation or various disorders.
It's possible that your high Alpha-1 globulin, etc could also be caused by this same underlying condition.
But I'm not a doc and only your doc can make these sorts of calls.
It really sounds like your doc is on top of things if he is ruling out things such as multiple myeloma as the underyling cause of some of your out-of-whack lab numbers.
I know it's hard, but I would try and wait till you hear back from your doc rather than try to figure out what's going on by interpreting these test results on an Internet forum. Let us know how things turn out.
It's possible that your high Alpha-1 globulin, etc could also be caused by this same underlying condition.
But I'm not a doc and only your doc can make these sorts of calls.
It really sounds like your doc is on top of things if he is ruling out things such as multiple myeloma as the underyling cause of some of your out-of-whack lab numbers.
I know it's hard, but I would try and wait till you hear back from your doc rather than try to figure out what's going on by interpreting these test results on an Internet forum. Let us know how things turn out.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Meaning of serum protein electrophoresis results?
Hello again, SMAMA:
One more quick point to all of MB's good points. The classical symptoms of multiple myeloma are summarized by the acronym "CRAB". C= Calcium in the blood; R=Renal (kidney) failure; A=anemia; and B= Bone damage. You should ask yourself and your doctor about these symptoms. You did not post your light chain results. As MB said, the M-Spike together with the light chains, when considering both, will be a very strong (but not perfect in all cases) indicator if you have newly diagnosed multiple myeloma or one of the pre-cursor conditions.
My experience with general practitioners is that some of then are aware of the M-Spike screening if you are a patient and complaining about one of the CRAB symptoms, they will order that test. Many GP's, however, are not. If your NDMM is caught early by a GP, then I have heard that characterized that it was a "perceptive" GP, with some knowledge better than average. My wife's GP actually called for an MSpike screening and caught her MGUS several years ago, which was good so we could stay a little bit ahead of the progression, before bad problems developed. When it comes to the light chains, however, my experience is that not many GP's are knowledgeable to that degree, and that is a test that is rarely ordered by a GP. At the point where you are having issues with your blood numbers, and you have not figured out what it is, you most likely need a good general hematologist. It might be multiple myeloma, but could also be many other disorders. Sounds like you might be at that stage. Good luck.
One more quick point to all of MB's good points. The classical symptoms of multiple myeloma are summarized by the acronym "CRAB". C= Calcium in the blood; R=Renal (kidney) failure; A=anemia; and B= Bone damage. You should ask yourself and your doctor about these symptoms. You did not post your light chain results. As MB said, the M-Spike together with the light chains, when considering both, will be a very strong (but not perfect in all cases) indicator if you have newly diagnosed multiple myeloma or one of the pre-cursor conditions.
My experience with general practitioners is that some of then are aware of the M-Spike screening if you are a patient and complaining about one of the CRAB symptoms, they will order that test. Many GP's, however, are not. If your NDMM is caught early by a GP, then I have heard that characterized that it was a "perceptive" GP, with some knowledge better than average. My wife's GP actually called for an MSpike screening and caught her MGUS several years ago, which was good so we could stay a little bit ahead of the progression, before bad problems developed. When it comes to the light chains, however, my experience is that not many GP's are knowledgeable to that degree, and that is a test that is rarely ordered by a GP. At the point where you are having issues with your blood numbers, and you have not figured out what it is, you most likely need a good general hematologist. It might be multiple myeloma, but could also be many other disorders. Sounds like you might be at that stage. Good luck.
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JPC - Name: JPC
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