What does it mean when M protein levels are high?

What does it mean when M protein levels are high?

Larger and more numerous M proteins may indicate a developing disease. The level of free light chains (another kind of protein) in your blood. Higher levels of free light chains are another sign of developing disease.

Does monoclonal protein mean cancer?

M-protein is an antibody—or part of an antibody—that can show up in tests of your blood and/or urine, and its presence can mean different things. In blood cancers such as myeloma, the ‘M’ in ‘M protein’ stands for monoclonal. A monoclonal protein is produced by the abnormal, cancerous or precancerous cells.

What does a high M Spike mean?

A monoclonal spike (M spike or paraprotein) on serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) is a frequent finding in the general population and typically is pathognomonic of an asymptomatic, premalignant condition called monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS).

What does monoclonal protein present mean?

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is a condition in which an abnormal protein — known as monoclonal protein or M protein — is in your blood. This abnormal protein is formed within your bone marrow, the soft, blood-producing tissue that fills in the center of most of your bones.

Does protein in the blood indicate cancer?

Usually, the amount of total protein in your blood is relatively stable. High blood protein may be a symptom of underlying medical conditions, including dehydration, infections like hepatitis C or cancers like multiple myeloma.

What is a normal M spike range?

Normal range: 6.3-7.9 g/dL The total level of protein in the blood is measured by a total serum protein test. If the test results show abnormal protein levels, then multiple myeloma, kidney, liver, blood, and other autoimmune diseases may be indicated.

What is M spike in myeloma?

immunoglobulin protein (M-spike) will appear as a large peak on the graph. that is being produced by the malignant plasma cells. The amount of protein produced may vary throughout the course of the disease, but the type generally will remain the same.

How does myeloma make you feel?

Sometimes, the abnormal proteins produced by myeloma cells can damage nerves. This damage can lead to weakness and numbness and sometimes a “pins and needles” sensation. This is also called peripheral neuropathy.

What is the first stage of multiple myeloma?

This earliest phase is called smoldering multiple myeloma. When you have it, you won’t have any symptoms, but your test results will show: At least 10% to 59% of your bone marrow is made up of cancerous plasma cells. You have the abnormal antibodies that myeloma cells make in your blood or urine.

What does elevated M protein mean?

The acronym “ MGUS ” stands for “monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance”, which means that elevated antibodies have been found in the blood, but there is no known cause. The circulating antibody in this disease is called M protein, in which the “M” stands for “monoclonal.”.

What is high M protein?

Instead, they make large amounts of an abnormal protein called monoclonal immunoglobulin, commonly known as M protein (and sometimes called M spike), which doesn’t fight infection and has no real use. Most patients with untreated myeloma have high levels of M protein in their blood and urine.

What may cause too much protein in the blood?

Some of the main causes of too much of protein in blood are Too much of protein in blood is often seen after a stressful exercise. Even after an epileptic attack, you may find high level of protein in the blood. Amyloidosis: in this condition there is an abnormal production of protein in the bone marrow.

What causes elevated protein?

One underlying cause of elevated levels of protein in the blood is a long-lasting infection or chronic inflammation. The chronic stimulation of the immune system caused by the inflammation or an infection causes the consistent production of antibody proteins.