Pattern of serum protein electrophoresis results in a group of patients with plasma cell myeloma confirmed by bone marrow findings at King Hussein Medical Center

Abstract EN

Objective : To analyze the serum protein electrophoresis and immunofixation results in a group of patients confirmed to have plasma cell myeloma by bone marrow findings.

Method : The study was conducted at Princess Iman Center for Research and Laboratory Sciences at King Hussein Medical Center.

A total of 30 patients were studied in the time period between June 2013 and December 2013.

For each patient serum protein electrophoresis and immunofixation were performed.

The bone marrow aspirate and biopsy results were reviewed.

The patterns of serum protein electrophoresis were analyzed and confirmed by immunofixation electrophoresis.

Results : All the patients' serum protein electrophoresis results showed the presence of monoclonal band.

No non-secretory myeloma cases were found.

The location of bands was in gamma or beta regions ; 23 (76.6 %) of 30 were found in gamma region, whereas 7 (23.4 %) in beta region.

The largest proportion of IgG paraprotein type was found in gamma region and majority of IgA and IgM types were found in beta region.

The most common paraprotein isotype found in beta region was IgA with frequency of 71.4 %, 14.3 % for IgG and 14.3 % for IgM.

The most frequent paraprotein (heavy chain) isotype seen was as follows : 80 %, 16.6 %, and 3.3 % for IgG, IgA, and IgM respectively.

Regarding light chains, kappa light chain was the most frequent (60 %).

Conclusion : The patterns of serum protein electrophoresis and immunofixation of this group of plasma cell myeloma patients showed the presence of M-band in all patients.

For early diagnosis patients suspected to have plasma cell myeloma the serum protein electrophoresis and immunofixation remain an easy gold standard test for cases with secretory plasma cell myeloma.