Monoclonal gammopathy in a tertiary referral hospital

ObjectiveMonoclonal gammopathies reflect conditions of plasma B-cell disorders. Our objective was to identify the prevalence and types of these gammopathies in our population.MethodsA 10 year retrospective study was conducted. Serum and/or urine protein electrophoresis were performed on 6624 samples. Positive bands were further tested by immunofixation (IFE).ResultsHomogenous bands were detected in 7% of the patients. IFE method confirmed 6.3% in which 59% were males and 41% were females. The mean age was 64.7 for females and 66.5 for males. The sensitivity and specificity were 91% and 99% respectively. The most common protein was IgG kappa 41%, followed by IgG lambda 19%. Sixty-eight percent of these patients had monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and 14.6% had multiple myeloma.ConclusionThe majority of the studied population had MGUS. This observation is in concord with other western populations. The sensitivity and specificity of protein electrophoresis is diagnostically and reasonably acceptable.