My husband has been recently diagnosed, but it is yet inconclusive if he has smoldering or active multiple myeloma. Hopefully we'll find that out later today.
I have been reading as much information as I can in the last couple of weeks and trying to understand the information and lab results. I see a lot of reference to the M-spike, but I don't know how to interpret that info. I don't see it on any of the lab reports.
Can anyone tell me how this is calculated, or what values/readings are used?
Lab results say "M protein detected IgG kappa"
IgG 54.7 g/L (7.2-16.9 g/L)
IgA 0.22 g/L (0.69-3.82 g/L
IgM 0.17 g/L (0.63-2.77 g/L)
Albumin 48 g/L (34-45 g/L)
M1 Protein 40 g/L
Gamma Globulin 42 g/L (7-15g/L)
Any insight or references would be much appreciated.
Forums
2 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Re: What value in my lab results is the M-spike?
Welcome to the forum, Spatlese.
When it's not explicitly called the "M-spike" on lab reports, you'll see the M-spike described in various ways, including "abnormal protein level", "monoclonal protein level", "abnormal protein band 1", and "paraprotein".
The M-spike value from blood tests will be reported as part of the results of a "serum protein electrophoresis" (SPEP) test.
In your husband's case, it looks from the results you've reported that the M-spike is the "M1 Protein". I've not seen the M-spike reported this way in the past, however, so I can't be 100 percent certain.
I think it's the M-spike, however, because the M-protein type is reported as being IgG, and the total IgG level is reported to be 54.7 g/L, which is about 40 g/L above normal. The amount that the IgG level is above normal is usually the M-spike in MGUS and myeloma patients, and, sure enough, in your husband's results, the M1 protein level is listed as 40 g/L.
So, as I said, I'm guessing the M1 protein level is the M-spike. It's 40 g/L, or 4.0 g/dL.
M-spikes are typically reported in g/dL in the United States, and in g/L in most other countries. There's a difference of a factor of 10 between the two units. An M-spike of 2.5 g/dL is the same as an M-spike of 25 g/L.
I hope this helps a bit. Good luck!
When it's not explicitly called the "M-spike" on lab reports, you'll see the M-spike described in various ways, including "abnormal protein level", "monoclonal protein level", "abnormal protein band 1", and "paraprotein".
The M-spike value from blood tests will be reported as part of the results of a "serum protein electrophoresis" (SPEP) test.
In your husband's case, it looks from the results you've reported that the M-spike is the "M1 Protein". I've not seen the M-spike reported this way in the past, however, so I can't be 100 percent certain.
I think it's the M-spike, however, because the M-protein type is reported as being IgG, and the total IgG level is reported to be 54.7 g/L, which is about 40 g/L above normal. The amount that the IgG level is above normal is usually the M-spike in MGUS and myeloma patients, and, sure enough, in your husband's results, the M1 protein level is listed as 40 g/L.
So, as I said, I'm guessing the M1 protein level is the M-spike. It's 40 g/L, or 4.0 g/dL.
M-spikes are typically reported in g/dL in the United States, and in g/L in most other countries. There's a difference of a factor of 10 between the two units. An M-spike of 2.5 g/dL is the same as an M-spike of 25 g/L.
I hope this helps a bit. Good luck!
2 posts
• Page 1 of 1