title: Peripheral neuropathies associated with monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance.
abstract: Monoclonal gammopathies (MGs) or plasma cell dyscrasias (PCDs) are hematologic disorders that may affect peripheral nerves. An MG is a proliferation of a single clone of neoplastic or nonneoplastic plasma that usually secretes a monoclonal protein (M-protein) serum or urine. If a diagnosis of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is established, a sudden increase in M-protein levels can indicate malignant transformation of a benign PCD. Roughly 50% of MGUS neuropathies are associated with an IgM gammopathy and the remaining 50% with IgG- and IgA-MGUS-associated neuropathies. MGUS is the most common of the PCDs associated with neurologic disorders, which are easily approached clinically by classifying them as IgM or non-IgM types.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kelly
mesh_terms: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D001798:Blood Proteins; D007136:Immunoglobulins