Prevalence and risk of progression of light-chain monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance: a retrospective population-based cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is defined by expression of heavy-chain immunoglobulin (IgH) and is the precursor lesion for 80% of cases of multiple myeloma. The remaining 20% are characterised by absence of IgH expression; we aimed to assess prevalence of a corresponding precursor entity, light-chain MGUS.

Methods

We used a population-based cohort, previously assembled to estimate MGUS prevalence, of 21,463 residents of Olmsted County, MN, USA, aged 50 years and older. We did a serum free light-chain assay on all samples with sufficient serum remaining, and immunofixation electrophoresis was done for all samples with an abnormal free light-chain ratio or abnormal protein electrophoresis results from the original study. Light-chain MGUS

SUBMITTER: Dispenzieri A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2904571 | biostudies-literature | 2010 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature