title: The incidence of monoclonal gammopathy in a population over 45 years old determined by isoelectric focusing.
abstract: Immuno-isoelectric focusing (IIEF), a technique previously shown to be sensitive for the detection of paraproteinaemia, was used to test 200 individuals over the age of 45, without history of B cell neoplasm, for the presence of serum paraproteinaemia. 11% of these individuals had evidence of paraproteinaemia detectable by IIEF compared with only 2% by zonal and immunoelectrophoresis. A further 12% had oligoclonal immunoglobulins and the remainder had no qualitative abnormality of the immunoglobulin profile. These results are discussed with particular reference to the aetiology, diagnosis and monitoring of potential B cell neoplasm in high risk individuals or groups.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D007525:Isoelectric Focusing; D008875:Middle Aged; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012606:Scotland