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M Protein
So I am seeing questions about M Protein. I ask my doctor and he said M Protein is the same as my IgA count. So if my Iga count is 1040, what would the value of the M Protein be? Same for 2040, what is the value of the M Protein?
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nancy524 - Name: Nancy Schwartz
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: diagnosed Dec. 2007
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: M Protein
Dear Nancy,
The total serum IgA level is a measure of all of your serum IgA -- that derived from abnormal plasma cells (myeloma cells or their precursors as is the case with MGUS) and that derived from non-cancerous, normal plasma cells. Now, most of the 1040 mg/dL of IgA that is being measured in your serum is likely derived from the abnormal plasma cells, so the total IgA is a good surrogate marker for the M protein but it is not one and the same. The M protein is determined by the SPEP which measures the concentration of antibody being produced strictly by the abnormal plasma cells. For IgA myeloma and MGUS, the SPEP test can sometimes be difficult to interpret, so your doctor may be relying on the total IgA as a result.
I hope this makes sense. Let us know if we can help in any other way!
Pete V.
The total serum IgA level is a measure of all of your serum IgA -- that derived from abnormal plasma cells (myeloma cells or their precursors as is the case with MGUS) and that derived from non-cancerous, normal plasma cells. Now, most of the 1040 mg/dL of IgA that is being measured in your serum is likely derived from the abnormal plasma cells, so the total IgA is a good surrogate marker for the M protein but it is not one and the same. The M protein is determined by the SPEP which measures the concentration of antibody being produced strictly by the abnormal plasma cells. For IgA myeloma and MGUS, the SPEP test can sometimes be difficult to interpret, so your doctor may be relying on the total IgA as a result.
I hope this makes sense. Let us know if we can help in any other way!
Pete V.
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Dr. Peter Voorhees - Name: Peter Voorhees, M.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
Re: M Protein
Dr. Peter Voorhees:
Mine is cancerous, I was diagnosed in Dec 2007. But evidently I am very lucky. I have not had to have any chemo, etc. I am on Decadron only, 40 mg a week. My doctor said I could live like this forever. He says I am Stage 1, asymptomatic, IgA Lambda. My visit in June my IgA was 2310 and in Oct was 1040. My bone marrow biopsy started at 60% myeloma cells in 2007, and have dropped to 20% myeloma cells this year.
As far as the chemo, etc, I have refused all that anyway, will never do it. So far things have been controlled very well witht he Dex. I have tried Rev and thalidomide but had such bad reactions I had to be taken off of it. I go every 2-3 months for blood work and have a bone marrow biopsy once a year and skeletal xrays once a year. I do have one lesion on the left side of my skull, that is 1/2" x 1/2' x 1/2".
Mine is cancerous, I was diagnosed in Dec 2007. But evidently I am very lucky. I have not had to have any chemo, etc. I am on Decadron only, 40 mg a week. My doctor said I could live like this forever. He says I am Stage 1, asymptomatic, IgA Lambda. My visit in June my IgA was 2310 and in Oct was 1040. My bone marrow biopsy started at 60% myeloma cells in 2007, and have dropped to 20% myeloma cells this year.
As far as the chemo, etc, I have refused all that anyway, will never do it. So far things have been controlled very well witht he Dex. I have tried Rev and thalidomide but had such bad reactions I had to be taken off of it. I go every 2-3 months for blood work and have a bone marrow biopsy once a year and skeletal xrays once a year. I do have one lesion on the left side of my skull, that is 1/2" x 1/2' x 1/2".
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nancy524 - Name: Nancy Schwartz
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: diagnosed Dec. 2007
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: M Protein
I am glad that you have had such a great response to the dex therapy! Keep up the good work!
Pete V.
Pete V.
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Dr. Peter Voorhees - Name: Peter Voorhees, M.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
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