title: Multiple myeloma: a case of atypical presentation on protein electrophoresis.
abstract: Multiple myeloma is a group of B-cell disorders resulting in the secretion of a specific and unique monoclonal immunoglobulin (M-protein). Protein electrophoresis is advised whenever multiple myeloma is suspected. The monoclonal protein migrates as a single entity in the electric field and is detected by the non-specific protein stain as a more intensely stained band superimposed on the usual protein pattern. The M-protein usually migrates in the gamma or beta region of the normal protein pattern; very rarely it may appear in the α2 or even in α1 region. Here we have given an atypical case presentation where the patient with multiple myeloma presented with two M-spike one each in α2 and β-globulin region on agarose gel protein electrophoresis with hypoglobulinemia but with reversed A:G ratio.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Apollo Hospitals, Bhubaneswar, India.
authors.forename: Nihar Ranjan
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Dash
authors.forename: Biswajit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mohanty
keywords: Agarose gel protein electrophoresis; Biclonal gammopathy; Immunofixation electrophoresis; M-protein; Multiple myeloma