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Serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP or SPE) is a laboratory test that examines specific proteins in the blood called globulins. [1] The most common indications for a serum protein electrophoresis test are to diagnose or monitor multiple myeloma , a monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance (MGUS), or further investigate a discrepancy ...
Normal total protein levels are not sufficient to rule out multiple myeloma or other malignant paraproteinemias, but they may also be the cause of moderate-to-marked hyperproteinemia. To determine the reason behind the elevated serum total protein, a serum protein electrophoresis should be carried out.
When a paraproteinemia is present in the blood, there will be a narrow band, or spike, in the serum protein electrophoresis because there will be an excess of production of one protein. [2] There are two large classes of blood proteins: albumin and globulin. They are generally equal in proportion, but albumin is much smaller than globulin, and ...
Protein electrophoresis generally detects one of the following patterns of monoclonal myeloma protein spikes representing: a) intact IgG, IgA, IgE, IgE, or IgM; b) intact IgG, IgA, IgE, IgD, or IgM plus high concentrations of a free (i.e. not bound to a heavy chain) κ or λ light chain; c) a free κ chain in great excess of a λ chain or a ...
Serum protein electrophoresis or immunofixation is positive in 67-100% of cases, while urine protein electrophoresis or immunofixation is positive in 50-100% of cases. [2] Serum free light chain measurement is positive in 100% of cases, evidence that the underlying monoclonal plasma cells secrete free light chains as well as heavy chains.
Hypergammaglobulinemia is a condition that is characterized by the increased levels of a certain immunoglobulin in the blood serum. [1] The name of the disorder refers to an excess of proteins after serum protein electrophoresis (found in the gammaglobulin region). [citation needed]
MGUS occurs in over 3 percent of the White population over the age of 50, and is typically detected as an incidental finding when patients undergo a protein electrophoresis as part of an evaluation for a wide variety of clinical symptoms and disorders (e.g., peripheral neuropathy, vasculitis, hemolytic anemia, skin rashes, hypercalcemia, or ...
Being asymptomatic, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and smoldering multiple myeloma are typically diagnosed fortuitously by detecting a myeloma protein on serum protein electrophoresis tests done for other purposes. MGUS is a relatively stable condition afflicting 3% of people aged 50 and 5% of people aged 70; it progresses ...