title: Epidemiology of multiple myeloma and the role of M-band detection on serum electrophoresis in a small developing country. A retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to determine the role of M-band component on serum protein electrophoresis and bone marrow biopsy in the diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data was collected on 34 patients with MM diagnosed and/or treated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were equal numbers of men 17 (50%) and women 17 (50%). All patients were first screened for the presence of M-Band using serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) followed by bone marrow biopsy as the confirmatory test. Only two patients screened negative by SPE. On the other hand six patients who tested positive by SPE were negative on biopsy. Thus the sensitivity of the SPE was 96% and specificity 71%. This means that 29 patients had an established diagnosis of MM. There was a slight male predominance when compared to females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data showed that the SPE and bone biopsy are the important tools in the diagnosis of multiple myeloma in a small developing country.
authors.affiliation: The University of the West Indies, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Department of Preclinical and Paraclinical Sciences, Trinidad and Tobago. Shivananda.Nayak@sta.uwi.edu
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Nayak
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mungrue
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gopee
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Friday
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hirschfeld
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chadband
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gardider
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gaborone
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baptise
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology*; D064211:Connectin; D003906:Developing Countries; D004586:Electrophoresis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D064211:Connectin; D009124:Muscle Proteins