Prognosis in monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance.
Eighty-seven patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) were followed for a period of 1-20 years, median 91 months. Transformation to multiple myeloma occurred in 14 patients of whom seven died as a consequence of the disease. There were 13 unrelated deaths. The actuarial probability of survival was 80% at 10 years and 44% at 15 years and the probabilities of malignant conversion for the same periods were 17% and 30% respectively. The most significant factor influencing the probability of malignant conversion was the increase of monoclonal protein above the level of 30 g/l during the observation period (P<0.001), followed by an increase of M-protein to more than 50% above the baseline level (P=0.02) and a decreased level of uninvolved immunoglobulins (P=0.054).
Vuckovic
J
J
Department of Haematology, Health Centre Split, Split University Hospital, Croatia.
Ilic
A
A
Knezevic
N
N
Marinkovic
M
M
Zemunik
T
T
Dubravcic
M
M
D064211:Connectin; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000401:mortality; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D009194:Myeloma Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000401:mortality*; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis
D064211:Connectin; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D009194:Myeloma Proteins; C085016:multiple myeloma M-proteins