title: [Bi- and tri-clonal gammopathies and the elderly].
abstract: Between 1985 and 1990, bi- or triclonal gammopathies were diagnosed in 6 patients (4 women and 2 men) aged 86-93 years. These gammopathies were diagnosed based on the existence of 2 or 3 monoclonal immunoglobulin peaks separated by immunoelectrophoresis of serum proteins (a technique using monospecific anti-gamma, -kappa and -lambda antisera, followed by immunofixation). The 2 biclonal gammopathies were associated with malignancies: on bronchial small cell carcinoma, the other colon cancer; both patients died soon after the discovery of their respective tumors. The 4 triclonal gammopathies had the following associations: 1 non-Hodgkin's large-cell lymphoma, 1 breast cancer with possible lymphoma and 2 severe inflammatory pathologies that we were unable to further identify; 3 patients in this group died. We present these data in light of the rarity of reported cases of bi- and triclonal gammopathies and the controversies surrounding their possible association with a malignant pathology.
authors.affiliation: Service de Gérontologie, Hôpital Joffre, Draveil.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tenenbaum
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meignan
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Vincent
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006942:Hypergammaglobulinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000652:urine; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M
vernacular_title: Gammapathies bi- et triclonales et sujet âgé.