possibility of MM?

	Asked by Unregistered on Tue 01, Apr 2008 12:37am
	I had a cbc done on 02/11/08 because of a tooth infection and a bad cold. ( I had a root canal done the following week). On 3/16/08 because of my age (60)and the fact that my father died of MM at 57, I had a PEP done. The results were: Total protein 8.2, Albumin 3.3, Alpha-1 Globulin 0.3, Alpha-2 Globulin 1.0, Beta- Globulin 2.7, Gamma Globulin 1.0, A/G Ratio 0.68, M spike 2.4 g/dL. On 3/24/08 I had an immunofixation-serum done. The results were: Albumin 3.4, Alpha-1 Globulin 0.2, Alpha-2 Globulin 1.0, Beta-Globulin 2.7, Gamma-Globulin 0.9, A/G Ratio 0.70, M spike 2.0, Total Protein 8.3. What are my chances of having MM? I'm really scared.
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	Answer by Dr Heinrik M, MD (doctor) on Thu 03, Apr 2008 11:38am: Hi, I’m sorry to hear about your father. Your concerns about the disease are pretty valid – though familial patterns of multiple myeloma are not as well-characterized compared with some other malignancies. For this post, I am assuming that you don’t have any symptoms that would prompt to survey the bones (since it has not been done) or the kidney. The pattern does not seem to be consistent with a recent infection. While your results do not reach usual levels for myeloma, there is a small subset (20% or so) of myeloma which have fairly low levels for the M component. Hence, it would be important to repeat the serum electrophoresis within the next 3 to 6 months. Have all your examinations involved blood only? Have you had any urine collection? If urine results turn out negative, then the same advice – which is to repeat testing in a few months would hold. If the urine tests turn out positive, then more testing would be recommended – unfortunately some tests like the marrow biopsy is a bit invasive. I understand that a period of observation may be filled with such anxiety. Keep in mind though, that not everyone with these abnormal proteins convert to multiple myeloma. It is estimated that only about 15-20% will progress to overt myeloma over a 10 year interval.
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