title: Monoclonal gammopathy: natural history studied with a retrospective approach.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the natural history of monoclonal gammopathy using a retrospective approach and a long observation period. Protein electrophoresis (PE) and immunofixation (IF) was performed on frozen prediagnosis serum samples from 65 multiple myeloma (MM) and 10 Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM) cases. Paraprotein was found in 28% and 46% of the samples from cases using PE and IF respectively. The type of paraprotein was IgA in 33.4% of cases, IgG in 57%, and IgM in 8.5%. Excluding light chain or non-secretory disease, 72 % of MM cases had a prodromal MGUS phase within 10 years of diagnosis MM and WM were preceded by MGUS in at least half of the cases, confirming the premalignant nature of this condition.
authors.affiliation: Landspitali University Hospital, Department of Clinical Hematology, Reykjavik, Iceland.
authors.forename: Hlif
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Steingrimsdottir
authors.forename: Vilhelmìna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Haraldsdottir
authors.forename: Isleifur
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Olafsson
authors.forename: Vilmundur
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gudnason
authors.forename: Helga M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Ogmundsdottir
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland / Q000453:epidemiology; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000453:epidemiology; D009194:Myeloma Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010266:Paraproteins / Q000032:analysis; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D008258:Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D009194:Myeloma Proteins; D010266:Paraproteins