Laboratory Diagnosis of Protein Abnormalities

OBJECTIVES

By the end of this session the reader should be able to:

• To understand how electrophoresis is used to aid in the diagnosis of various disease states
• To learn how to interpret electrophoresis patterns
• To understand how immunofixation electrophoresis is used to identify the type of immunoglobulin present

KEY TERMS

Acute-Phase Reaction - The body's response to injury of inflammation, including fever, leukocytosis, and protein changes

Bence Jones protein - free light chains; An abnormal plasma or urinary protein, consisting of monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains, excreted in some neoplastic diseases and characterized by its unusual solubility properties as it precipitates on heating at 56 to 60° C and redissolves at 90 to 100° C. It is measured by immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE).

Complement - A functionally related system comprising at least 20 distinct serum proteins that help destroy foreign cells identified by the immune system.

Congenital - existing at birth

MGUS - monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance

Monoclonal immunoglobulinopathies - increased concentration of a single immunoglobin that originates from a single plasma cell clone; also known as M-proteins

Paraprotein - abnormal protein appearing in large quantities as a result of a pathological process/condition: also known as myeloma components (MCs)

Polyclonal hyperimmunoglobulinemias - increased concentration of immunoglobulins from many different plasma cell lines

Proteinuria - Protein in the urine

BACKGROUND/SIGNIFICANCE

Understanding how to interpret concentrations of proteins in body fluids is important because proteins have crucial roles in many biological responses. In addition, changes in protein concentrations often provide the initial evidence allowing clinicians to diagnose a variety of disease states. For pharmacists, understanding the analysis and interpretation of plasma proteins is especially important as most plasma proteins are synthesized by the liver which is a frequent target of drug toxicity.

ANALYTICAL APPROACH

• Serum protein electrophoresis: electrophoresis is a screening test which can be followed by quantitative assay of specific proteins; independent measurement of total protein is required for conversion to absolute amounts
• Identify abnormalities in immunoglobulin fraction by serum immunofixation
• Follow specific protein abnormalities by quantitative analysis of the protein by immunoassay

FACTORS AFFECTING SEPARATION

• pH of buffer and charge on protein (amino acid side groups, carbohydrate moiety-sialic acid)
• Sieving effect of pore size versus cross-sectional area of protein molecules
• Chemical selective adsorptivity onto support medium

Reference Ranges
Total proteins	6.0 - 8.0 g/dL
Albumin	3.3 - 5.0 b/dL
Albumin: globulin (A/G) ratio	1.5:1 - 3.0:1

(See table below for reference ranges for other proteins)

Acute-Phase Reactants

Tissue damage and subsequent inflammation caused by trauma, tissue necrosis, immunomediated cell damage (as in auto-immune or immune complex disease), as well as viral and bacterial infections trigger the acute phase response which includes the increased synthesis of the acute phase proteins. In the case of bacterial infection the response is much larger than that by an equivalent amount of inflammation of other origin. The difference is due to the potent effect of bacterial endotoxin in inducing cytokine (TNF alpha, IL1, IL6) release from macrophages, which in turn stimulates the liver to synthesize acute phase proteins. Bacterial DNA, unmethylated CpG sequences, IL12, etc are important inducers of this reaction. In general, this reaction reflects innate immunity.

The time curve of elevation of individual acute phase proteins and the degree of elevation of individual proteins differs in various disease entities. The alteration in acute phase protein concentration in serum is due mainly to changes in the transcription rate of genes within hepatocytes. The specificity of increases in acute phase proteins is high for tissue injury but low for specific disease entities.

One of the most useful aspects of acute phase protein measurements is the sensitivity to small amounts of inflammation. C-reactive protein (CRP) is the measurement of choice for the detection of acute inflammation and in monitoring the response to treatment of inflammatory disease. In chronic conditions, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate may be the preferred measurement.

The increase in synthesis of acute phase proteins is accompanied by a decrease in prealbumin, albumin, and transferrin, the so-called negative acute phase reactants. Thus, there may be little change in the total protein concentration.

Important Acute Phase Proteins

A) α₁-globulins

1) α₁-antitrypsin

• serine protease
• key role in elasticity of lungs
• decreased concentrations cause liver disease and hepatocellular damage
• hereditary deficiency leads to emphysema and liver disease

2) α₁-acid glycoprotein (orosomucoid)

• binding protein for many drugs

3) α₁-Antichymotrypsin

• anti-protease

B) α₂-globulins

1) Haptoglobin

• binds free hemoglobin
• naturally bacteriostatic
• monitored in hemolytic disease (e.g., haptoglobin ↓ in hemolytic disease. Haptoglobin binds heme and is then removed from circulation)

2) Ceruloplasmin

• copper-binding protein
• essential role in mechanism for storing Fe in ferritin

3) C₄-complement

• binds covalently to site of antibody binding

C) β-Globulins

1) Fibrinogen

• consumed in clotting

2)C₃-complement

• final common pathway of complement

3) Hemopexin

• binds heme

D) γ-globulin

CRP

• most sensitive acute phase reactant
• activates complement
• recognizes potentially toxic autogenous (from self) compounds released from damaged tissue
• can be used to follow progression of disease
• “high sensitivity” CRP is used as a prognostic indicator of future adverse cardiac events

In the acute phase response the most striking pattern on electrophoresis is an increase in the α₁ and α₂ regions. Albumin, prealbumin and transferrin are negative acute phase reactants (decrease in concentration) thus there may be little change in the total protein concentration.

Most Important Plasma Proteins

GENERAL COMMENTS ON CLINICAL ABNORMALITIES OF GAMMA-GLOBULINS

Congenital Deficiency

• Immunodeficiency syndromes that are present at birth: Selective IgA deficiency, X-linked agammaglobulinemia, hyper-IgM with decreased IgG (CD40L deficiency), SCID (X-linked and autosomal)

Secondary Hypogammaglobulinemias

• Protein-losing conditions (gut, kidney)
• Malignant lymphomas (marrow replacement and inhibition of immunoglobulin synthesis)
• Leukemias
• Multiple myeloma (monoclonal immunoglobulin increased while others decrease)

Polyclonal Hyperimmunoglobulinemias

• Chronic liver disease (increase of IgA due to decreased catabolism)
• Chronic infections (all are increased)
• Malignancies
• Autoimmune diseases (often IgM)
• Miscellaneous conditions (any chronic inflammation)

Monoclonal Immunoglobulinopathies (M-Proteinemia)

• Multiple myeloma (G>A>M>E,D)
• Primary macroglobulinemia (Waldenstrøm’s, IgM)
• Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) (converts at 2% per year to myeloma)
• Miscellaneous conditions
• (converts at 2% per year to myeloma)

A single clone of immunoglobulin-producing cells usually synthesizes only a single immunoglobulin, or monoclonal protein, which separates electrophoretically as a homogeneous band giving a discrete peak. These M-proteins may be of the IgG, IgA, IgM, or (less commonly) IgD or IgE type and may appear as a sharp peak on electrophoresis anywhere within the beta and gamma regions of the electropherogram and rarely in the α-region (1-2%).

A) Multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma is a disease of older adults characterized by bone pain that is caused by a malignancy of plasma cells. In multiple myeloma bone marrow cells become replaced by plasma cells which often produce unregulated amounts of a monoclonal antibody that can be detected in serum. On bone biopsy plasma cells >30%, 3 or more lytic lesions would define the patient as having multiple myeloma. As bone marrow is replaced, patients become anemic and eventually have bone marrow failure. The bone marrow lesions can be visualize on x-ray as characteristic “punched out lesions” which leads to bone pain, osteoporosis, pathologic fractures, and hypercalcemia.

Immunofixation studies indicate that the abnormal protein is IgG in over half of the cases, one-fourth IgA, less than 10% IgM, much less than 1% IgD; and IgE is found rarely. Bence-Jones protein (kappa and lambda light chains) is present in the urine of over 50% of the patients. In about one-fourth of patients only light chains are produced by the abnormal plasma cells, and therefore monoclonal peaks may not be found in the serum since the light chains easily pass through the kidney. Hypogammaglobulinemia is often seen because immunoglobulin production by non-malignant plasma cells is also greatly reduced and catabolism is increased.

B) Waldenstrøm’s macroglobulinemia

Waldenstrøm’s macroglobulinemia is characterized by IgM monoclonal proteins which cause hyperviscosity of the patients serum. Typically there is an absence of lytic bone disease and no bone tenderness. The abnormal protein is of the IgM type with a molecular weight of about 1,000,000 and a sedimentation constant of 18S (Svedberg unit). Bence-Jones proteinuria occurs in about 10% of these patients. The blood may be very viscous, because these large molecules do not readily leave the plasma for the extra cellular space. The very viscous blood leads to blindness, hypertension, and priapism.

C) Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance

The term “monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance” (MGUS) denotes the presence of an M-protein in persons without clinical evidence of multiple myeloma (MM), macroglobulinemia, primary amyloidosis (AL) or other related disorders. This occurs in 50-60% of patients presenting with M-proteins. The term “benign monoclonal gammopathy” is misleading because one does not know if the process will remain stable and benign or will develop into symptomatic MM, macroglobulinemia, or a related disorder.

The frequency of monoclonal gammopathies increases with advancing age. The prevalence of MGUS is 1% of patients older than 50 years, 3% of those older than 70 years, and increases up to 10% in persons over the age of 80 years. The incidence of MGUS is higher in African-Americans and lower in elderly Japanese. MGUS is characterized by: the presence of less than 3 g/dL M-protein in serum; fewer than 10% plasma cells in the bone marrow; lack of, or only small amounts of M-protein in the urine, and a low plasma-cell labeling index (PCLI). PCLI measures the synthesis of DNA and when elevated is good evidence that the patient has MM or will soon develop it. In addition, evidence of bone lesions, anemia, hypercalcemia or renal insufficiency must be absent. Most importantly, the M-protein must remain stable and no other abnormalities develop.

In patients recently diagnosed with MGUS, serum protein electrophoresis should be stable. The test should be repeated in 3 to 6 months. If the M-protein is constant, the test should be repeated in 6 to 12 months. If the M-protein remains constant, electrophoresis and clinical evaluation should be performed annually thereafter. Patients should be told that the actuarial risk of malignant transformation is 17% at 10 years and 33% at 20 years. The rate of development of serious disease does not differ whether the M- protein is IgG, IgA, or IgM. However, patients should also be aware that evolution from MGUS to MM can be abrupt; and therefore, they should be advised to seek medical evaluation if symptoms develop.

IMMUNOFIXATION ELECTROPHORESIS

Example of identification of a monoclonal serum protein by immunofixation electrophoresis (Figure 1). The first track is serum protein electrophoresis (ELP). The next tracks are IgG (G), IgA (A), IgM (M), kappa light chains (K) and lambda light chains (L). The arrow indicates the position of the monoclonal protein. The second track identifies the protein as
IgG after reaction with IgG antibody and protein staining. The sixth track identifies the light chain as λ.

Example of identification of a monoclonal serum protein by immunofixation electrophoresis (Figure 2). The first track is serum protein electrophoresis (ELP). The next tracks are IgG (G), IgA (A), IgM (M), kappa light chains (K) and lambda light chains (L). The arrow indicates the position of the monoclonal protein. The third track identifies the protein as IgM after reaction with IgM antibody and protein staining. The sixth track identifies the light chain as λ.

ELECTROPHORETIC PATTERNS IN HEALTH AND DISEASE

CASE STUDIES

Case 1

An 84-year-old woman was admitted to a local hospital for sudden onset of severe pain in her right clavicular region. Previously, the patient had been in good health. Physical examination was essentially unremarkable with the exception of marked tenderness over her right clavicle. The patient denies having back pain.

PA and lateral chest x-rays demonstrated a fracture of the right clavicle and a compression fracture of a lower thoracic vertebra. There was a lucency on the mid-portion of the 7th left posterior rib. Skeletal exam showed multiple cortical and medullary “punched out” lesions throughout the skeleton.

Laboratory : Hb 10.2 g/dL, Hct 31%, WBC 5,200/µL (54 segs, 10 bands, 33 lymphs, 1 basophil, 2 eosinophils).
UA : Sp. gr. 1.021, protein 3+, 3-6 WBC/HPF, 8-10 RBC/HPF
SPEP : TP 10.4, Alb. 2.6, α₁ 0.6, α₂ 2 1.2, β 0.7, γ 5.3 (g/dL)

1. What is the most probable explanation (diagnosis) for these findings?

2. What therapeutic options are available for this patient?

Case 2

A 66-year-old man was admitted for biopsy of a neck mass. He had been well and actively employed as a painter until one year earlier when he fell from a ladder and sustained a subdural hematoma which was evacuated surgically. Fluid reaccumulated at the hematoma site, and a ventriculoperitoneal shunt was inserted. The shunt required multiple revisions. Infection was suspected but not documented.

Four months earlier a right paratracheal mass was noted on chest x-ray and one month earlier a right supraclavicular mass was felt.

On physical examination the patient had a mass on the right side of his neck, a palpable nodule in the right lobe of his thyroid, and several matted right supraclavicular lymph nodes.
Laboratory: the patient had a hematocrit of 28% and hemoglobin of 9.1 g/dL. His WBC was 3300/µL. The peripheral blood smear showed marked rouleaux formation of red cells, and his ESR was 147 mm/h. Serum viscosity was 5.0. Urinalysis revealed trace protein. SUN was 23 mg/dL and serum creatinine was 1.2 mg/dL.

Thyroid scan demonstrated iodine uptake into a nodule which was found to be a follicular adenoma on biopsy. Biopsy of the neck mass revealed a lymphoma.

SPEP: TP 8.3, alb. 2.9, α₁ 0.4, α₂ 1.1, β 0.7, γ 3.2 (g/dL)

1. What is the most probable explanation (diagnosis) for these findings?

Case 3

A 37-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of weakness and backache. For four years she has had episodic polyarticular arthritis involving her hands, knees, ankles, wrists, elbows, neck and sternal manubrium. Her arthritic exacerbations had been controlled with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, but the patient discontinued them for fear of side effects.

Physical examination revealed a large effusion in the patient's right elbow, a large effusion in her left knee with right knee tenderness, right ankle swelling and bilateral tenderness of her knuckles. The clinical diagnosis was ankylosing spondylitis.

Laboratory: There was mild anemia with a hematocrit of 35% and a hemoglobin of 11.6 g/dL. The WBC was normal with an increased number of lymphocytes. The ESR was 75 mm/h.

SPEP: TP 6.8, alb. 3.4, α₁ 0.4, α₂ 0.8, β 0.9, γ 1.3 (g/dL)

What is the most probable explanation (diagnosis) for these findings?

Case 4

An 84-year-old man was hospitalized for advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He has no complaints of back or other skeletal pain, no fever or weight loss. Skeletal x-rays reveal diffuse areas of patchy demineralization that could represent osteoporosis or early neoplastic disease. A serum protein electrophoresis was performed.

Laboratory: Urine was negative for Bence Jones protein. WBC 9800/µL, 51 segs, 28 lymphs, 2 basophils, 1 eosinophil.

SPEP: TP 10.4, alb. 3.6, α₁ 0.3, α₂ 0.8, β 0.9, γ 4.8 (g/dL)

What is the most probable explanation (diagnosis) for these findings?

Case 5

A 49-year-old woman entered the hospital because of shortness of breath and distended abdomen. She is a chronic alcoholic who has been admitted several times earlier because of massive ascites. Her abdominal size has increased markedly over the past 2 months, and she is unable to walk more than 1/2 block because of shortness of breath. Two weeks earlier she fell, striking her back on the left side and has since had pain on the left side of her chest wall, which impairs deep inspiration. She has been following a low sodium diet and takes aldactone and vitamins.

Physical examination revealed ecchymoses on the left posterior chest with tenderness in the region of the seventh to tenth ribs. Breath sounds were decreased at the left base. She had ascites with a positive fluid wave and a prominent venous pattern over the surface of the abdomen. There was 3+ edema from ankles to abdomen.

Laboratory: Serum electrolytes were Na+ 127 mmol/L, K⁺ 3.7 mmol/L, Cl^- 107 mmol/L, HCO3^-
19 mmol/L, and calcium 7.8 mg/dL. Serum amylase was 135 U/L and CK 96 U/L. Her WBC was 18,300/µL with segs 73, bands 4, lymphs 15 and monos 7. The platelet count was 142,000/µL. The ESR was 54 mm/h. Clotting studies showed PT 16.6/11.1 sec and PTT 38.3/31.1 sec. ABGs on room air were pCO₂ 54 mm Hg, pCO₂ 28 mm Hg, and pH 7.51.

SPEP: TP 8.0, alb. 2.6, α₁ 0.3, α₂ 0.5, β 0.9, γ 3.7 (g/dL)

What is the most probable explanation (diagnosis) for these findings?

Case 6

A 23-year-old man was in good health until 1 year ago when he developed right lower quadrant pain. A work-up to rule out acute appendicitis revealed an elevated AST 220 U/L, platelets of 86,000/$\mu$L, and ALP 118 U/L. Several months later because of low platelets and significant splenomegaly, the patient's spleen was removed. The patient presents now with fever, muscle aches and jaundice, and the following laboratory data: AST 1460 U/L, total bilirubin 7.9 mg/dL, conjugated bilirubin 4.7 mg/dL, platelets 220,000/µL.

SPEP: TP 9.2, alb. 3.2, α₁ 0.3, α₂ 0.6, β 0.8, γ 4.3 (g/dL)

1. What is the most probable explanation (diagnosis) for these findings?
2. What additional tests should be ordered?

Case 7

A 57-year-old man presented over 1 year ago with rectal bleeding of one month's duration. On physical examination, a large rectal mass was found. A surgical resection of the colon was performed and the tissue diagnosis was adenocarcinoma. At this time, the alkaline phosphatase was elevated. Over the past year, the patient's general condition has deteriorated with a chief complaint of back pain.

Bone scan demonstrates numerous skeletal lesions throughout the ribs, long bones, spine and skull.

Laboratory: Hb 9.1 g/dL, Hct 28%, CK 80 U/L, AST 20 U/L, ALP 935 U/L.

SPEP: TP 7.9, alb. 2.8, α₁ 0.8, α₂ 1.7, β 1.4, γ 1.2 (g/dL)

What is the most probable explanation (diagnosis) for these findings?

Case 8

An 18-year-old man in a third-world country was in good health until two years ago when he developed bilateral leg swelling which was treated with diuretics and steroids. He has no past history of malaria, renal disease, TB, or syphilis. The patient has been hospitalized numerous times over the past two years for the same complaint. Significant physical findings include periorbital edema and rales in both lower lung fields. There was +2 pedal edema. BP 110/75 mm Hg.

Laboratory: Hb 13.9 g/dL, Hct 40%, cholesterol 441 mg/dL, triglycerides 225 mg/dL, serum creatinine
1.2 mg/dL, 24 hour urine protein 12 g. Urinalysis: Sp. gr. 1.042, 4+ protein, large numbers of granular and hyaline casts, 2-5 WBC/HPF, 10-20 RBC/HPF.

SPEP: TP 4.6, alb. 2.8, α₁ 0.8, α₂ 2.0, β 0.9, γ 0.7 (g/dL)

What is the most probable explanation (diagnosis) for these findings?

Case 9

A 34-year-old man presents with chronic breathing difficulties which have resulted in markedly increased shortness of breath over the previous week. He is unable to work because of pulmonary disability and has a history of smoking one to two packs of cigarettes per day for 20 years and of industrial exposures to borax and petroleum vapor. He has a chronic cough productive of yellow to green sputum occasionally streaked with blood and has had polyarthritis in the joints of both hands for several years.

On physical examination, the chest is hyperresonant with depressed diaphragms, scattered wheezes, and rhonchi bilaterally. The cardiac apex is subxiphoid.

Laboratory: Chest x-ray demonstrated hyperinflation of the lungs and blunted costophrenic angle on the right. Arterial blood gases were pO2 51 mm Hg, pCO2 34 mm Hg, and pH 7.43 while breathing room air. Hemoglobin was 14.9 g/dL and hematocrit was 44%. White blood count was 8000/µL with a normal differential and the ESR was 57 mm/h. Pulmonary function studies showed a marked reduction in lung compliance consistent with severe emphysema.

SPEP: TP 6.0, alb. 2.3, α₁ 0.2, α₂ 0.7, β 0.7, γ 2.1 (g/dL)

What is the most probable explanation (diagnosis) for these findings?

Case 10

The patient is a 43-year-old man. Three years ago he sought medical treatment for developing masses in his neck, axilla, and groin regions. At that time, his WBC was 115,000 µL with 89% lymphocytes. He has been treated since that time with steroids and chemotherapy. Total body irradiation was given. A splenectomy was performed. Recently he went to Mexico for initiation of holistic therapies but because of increasing weakness and dyspnea, he was transferred to the hospital.

Laboratory: Hct 9%, Hb 3.1 g/dL, WBC 64,000/µL with 1 seg and the remainder lymphocytes and platelets 15,000/µL

SPEP: TP 5.1, alb. 3.2, α₁ 0.3, α₂ 0.7, β 0.8, γ 0.1 (g/dL)

What is the most probable explanation (diagnosis) for these findings?

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MT

Kim Kibby (guest) 13 May 2010 22:47

Thanks. This was very helpful.

DR Radhika Gnanadasa (guest) 10 Sep 2012 07:00

Good presentation of study material Thanks

Case studies

Kevin Kong 03 Nov 2013 04:03

Where can I get the answers to these case studies?

Forough (guest) 15 Jan 2015 09:53

Hi,
Would you please kindly send me the answers of these electerophoresis cases if you got them?

Thanx
Forough

Elham matoorian (guest) 08 Dec 2013 12:33

Thanks for these interesting cases.

sososo 09 Mar 2014 19:50

What is the solution to Case 8?

terres (guest) 04 Dec 2015 19:53

Increased alpha – 2 fraction: acute & chronic inflammatory diseases, nephrotic syndrome, oral contraceptive use, steroid use, hyperthyroidism, adrenal insufficiency, adrenocorticosteroid therapy, advanced diabetes mellitus.

This case seems to be nephrotic syndrome (lab findings, history and low albumin fraction). However, if I had this picture without any clue and if albumin was normal, I guess that I would ask also urine electrophoresis, bence jones (24 h urine) & immunifixation. Rarely a M spike in the rest than gamma fractions may indicate a monoclonal protein.

Hope (guest) 17 Mar 2014 18:51

I have elevated gamma globulin level and my urine tested positive for lambda light chains…. what "could" this mean?

terres (guest) 04 Dec 2015 19:22

You should go to the hospital and talk to a hematologist as soon as possible. It may be multiple myeloma. This reply is after 1.5 year. so I guess you have already talked to a doctor.

Forough (guest) 15 Jan 2015 09:56

Hi, how can I have the results of these cases?

Thanx
Forough

zee (guest) 07 Mar 2016 16:37

Hi, did you ever find the answers to these cases? I am looking for case 4 & 5! Please share the answers. Thanks

lisa (guest) 06 Feb 2015 15:53

What are the best ways to perform nutrition assessment

terres (guest) 04 Dec 2015 19:24

The albumin fraction (the 1st one) on serum protein electrophoresis will be low on malnutrition, but this occurs in medical problems and not in ordinary people. The best way is to check your serum iron, vitamin B12 and folate, as these 3 may cause anemia if deficient.

terres (guest) 04 Dec 2015 19:36

Serum Total protein & albumin are less expensive that SPE and will show if you have low albumin because of malnutrition or a medical problem (incuding liver, kidney & intestinal). You may also check also serum glucose & electrolytes (sodium, potassium. magnesium and calcium). Moreover, you may check vitamin D (e.g. if you have low calcium, or high parathormone). You should do a CBC (FBC; full blood count) and a basic biochemistry lab exam +_ urinalysis. If you want a complete check up you may do also add an abdominal ultrasound, an ECG and a physical. For all these, you should consult your GP/ family doctor. Nutritional status is essential in specific patients (especially the ones with kidney failure) and it is complicated (e.g. we need to know the Nitrogen levels that relate to protein intake). The vitamin level estimation is expensive, is done in special labs and not indicated unless a specific medical problem is suspected. In any case, nutritional deficiencies are related to medical problems e.g. alcoholism is associated with pyridoxine (B6 vitamin) deficiency.

zahra (guest) 15 Feb 2015 11:55

hi
Thank you for those nice cases
please send me the answers.

zee (guest) 07 Mar 2016 16:34

Hi, did you find answers to these cases? I am looking for the case #4 please!

gita (guest) 28 Mar 2015 03:09

what is the solution to case 2 ??

terres (guest) 04 Dec 2015 19:45

I am not sure. It seems a monoclonal protein related to the 2 cancers (lymphoma & thyroid cancer).

terres (guest) 04 Dec 2015 20:02

An M component may be detected in other lymphoid malignancies and in solid cancers.

But in this case, ESR is high and rouleux are seen in peripheral blood. Also M protein is >3g/dL. Hence, I guess that a multipe myeloma should be excluded with further tests.

If it is positive, then it is weird that the patient has 3 cancers (thyroid, lymphoma, multiple myeloma) probably unrelated.

In any case, this case study is confusing.

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