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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffMonoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance is usually detected during a blood test for another condition. The test, called serum protein electrophoresis (SPE), separates your blood proteins into five parts and can show any abnormal proteins as well as unusual amounts of normal proteins.
If your doctor detects monoclonal gammopathy, he or she may order further testing to determine what M protein your body is making and how much is being made. Your doctor also works to rule out other causes of elevated protein levels. Tests may include:
- Blood tests. Tests to count the blood cells in your blood (complete blood count), to look for decline in kidney function (serum creatinine test) and to determine the amount of calcium in your blood (serum calcium test) can help rule out other types of monoclonal gammopathy, such as multiple myeloma.
- X-rays. X-rays help your doctor look for bone abnormalities that may indicate another type of plasma cell disorder.
- Bone marrow test. During a bone marrow test, your doctor uses a hollow needle to remove a portion of your bone marrow from the back of one of your hipbones. The bone marrow is then analyzed to determine what percentage of plasma cells it contains. Most people with monoclonal gammopathy of undermined significance will never need this test, however.
- Monoclonal gammopathy. MayoClinic.org. http://www.mayoclinic.org/monoclonal-gammopathy. Accessed Sept. 5, 2008.
- Monoclonal gammopathy: Treatment. MayoClinic.org. http://www.mayoclinic.org/monoclonal-gammopathy/treatment.html. Accessed Sept. 5, 2008.
- Monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance (MGUS). The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec14/ch175/ch175b.html. Accessed Sept. 5, 2008.
- Kyle RA, et al. Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. British Journal of Haemotology. 2006;134(6):573-589.
- Gertz M. What is monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance? International Myeloma Foundation. http://myeloma.org/main.jsp?type=article&id=879. Accessed Sept. 5, 2008.
- Rajkumar SV, et al. Recognition of monoclonal proteins. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 5, 2008.
- New Mayo study shows higher prevalence of MGUS, a pre-cancerous blood disorder, than previously suspected. MayoClinic.org. http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2006-rst/3302.html. Accessed Sept. 5, 2008.
- Landgren O, et al. Risk of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and subsequent multiple myeloma among African American and white veterans in the United States. Blood. 2006;107(3):904-906.
