What does a positive paraprotein mean?
Plasma cells are specialised blood cells that usually produce a range of different proteins called immunoglobulins as part of the body’s immune system. If a group of plasma cells start to produce just one type of abnormal protein this is called a paraprotein and can be an indicator of an abnormality.
What causes IgM paraprotein?
IgM paraproteins are more commonly associated with lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma than multiple myeloma and can occur in a variety of other mature B-cell neoplasms. The large molecular weight of the IgM multimer leads to a spectrum of clinical manifestations more commonly seen with IgM paraproteins than others.
What are monoclonal Paraproteins?
Paraproteins are monoclonal immune globulin fragments or intact immune globulins produced by usually a malignant cone of plasma cells or B cells. These proteins are associated with a spectrum of kidney disorders caused by either direct effects on the kidney cells or deposition in various kidney cells.
How are Paraproteins different from normal immunoglobulin?
Paraproteins form a narrow band, or ‘spike’ in protein electrophoresis as they are all exactly the same protein. Unlike normal immunoglobulin antibodies, paraproteins cannot fight infection. Serum free light-chain measurement can detect free light chains in the blood.
What do Paraproteins do?
What does a positive M Spike mean?
Finding M proteins in the blood or urine is usually a sign of disease. Their presence is associated most commonly with a type of cancer of the plasma cells called multiple myeloma.
What is IgG Lambda paraprotein?
A paraprotein is an abnormal protein secreted by a clone of plasma cells or lymphocytes. It is usually an intact, complete IgG, IgM or IgA immunoglobulin. IgD and IgE paraproteins are rare. Sometimes only light chains are secreted (20% of cases).
Can a paraprotein be a symptom of lymphoma?
Although it can be associated with myeloma or lymphoma, a paraprotein is more commonly a manifestation of a condition called Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS). How common is it?
Is it normal to have small paraprotein bands?
normal (no immune paresis). This is especially true of small paraprotein bands (<10g/L) found by chance. At this stage patients do not require bone marrow examination or imaging of the whole skeleton. *If lymphocytes raised with IgM see lymphocytosis advice sheet.
How often does paraprotein occur in the normal population?
paraprotein is more commonly a manifestation of a condition called Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS). How common is it? Paraproteinaemia without any evidence of a local or systemic disorder occurs in: 0.3% of the normal population <50 years