What is monoclonal gammopathy?

4 May 2021

It is a condition that causes the presence of an abnormal protein in the blood called monoclonal or M protein, which is located in the bone marrow. It has a higher incidence in older men.

Also known as monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance, this condition does not usually cause symptoms, which is why it is accidentally diagnosed in tests for other diseases, nor does it usually cause serious complications, although in some cases it can turn into myeloma or other types of blood cancer.

Those who have already been diagnosed with monoclonal gammopathy require periodic medical surveillance to monitor their evolution, and in case of showing signs of osteoporosis, they should receive treatment with bisphosphonates.

Many patients with this pathology can remain asymptomatic and without problems for decades, but there is a risk of developing serious disorders such as:

Multiple myeloma.
Macroglobulinemia.
B cell lymphoma.
Amyloidosis.
Osteoporosis.
Kidney problems.
Clots.

Signs and symptoms Monoclonal gammopathy

Although, in many cases there are no symptoms, in certain cases, the following may appear:

Rash.
Numbness.
Osteopenia.
Tingling.
Weakness.
Osteoporosis.
Bone fractures.

Diagnosis and treatment Monoclonal gammopathy

In general, being asymptomatic, monoclonal gammopathy is diagnosed by chance when performing tests for other conditions, but if there are symptoms, the doctor will request various tests to confirm the diagnosis, such as:

Blood and urine tests.
Bone densitometry.
MRI.
Computed tomography.
Positron emission tomography.
Bone marrow biopsy.

As it is normally asymptomatic and stable for long periods, monoclonal gammopathy does not need to be treated as long as it does not evolve into a dangerous disease, so the doctor will request that you undergo periodic tests to monitor the disease and your health.

At ABC Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Department, we offer health care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies of both chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.

Related centers and departments Monoclonal gammopathy

Internal Medicine
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

topdoctors.es
cun.es
elsevier.es
middlesexhealth.org
msdmanuals.com
medlineplus.gov
mayoclinic.org
medigraphic.com
Howland AI, Hernández PJC, Becherán ML, et al. Variables analíticas y clínicas en un estudio de gammapatías monoclonales. Invest Medicoquir. 2014;6(1):61-69.
Reibaldi AA, Sager L, Calvo R, et al. Gammapatías monoclonales de significado clínico en reumatología. Rev Cub de Reu. 2020;22(Suppl: 1):.
Olea-Sánchez EG, Sánchez-Moreno EC, Hernández-Salcedo DR, et al. Síndrome nefrótico por amiloidosis AL asociado con gammapatía monoclonal de cadenas ligeras lambda. Med Int Mex. 2020;36(5):722-726.
Pizarro R, Samanez C, Cartolin M, et al. Efecto de la medición de cadenas ligeras libres en suero en el diagnóstico de gammapatías monoclonales; experiencia en Perú. Rev Hematol Mex. 2016;17(2):99-106.

How can we help you?

The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.

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Comparison of COVID-19 vaccines

Pfizer-
BioNTech

Pfizer-BioNTech

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 95% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

No Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 16 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, malaise, and swollen lymph nodes.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 14 days of having the complete scheme (after the administration of the 2nd dose), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

Moderna

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 94.5% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 28 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 18 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, and swollen lymph nodes in the arm in which you received the injection.

Janssen/
Johnson
& Johnson

Janssen/ Johnson & Johnson

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 72.0% in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.
85% in the prevention of severe COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives./strong>

How many doses are needed?
Only one dose in needed.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 28 days of having the complete scheme (the last dose applied), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from 85% serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

AstraZeneca
and
Oxford
University

AstraZeneca and Oxford University

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 82% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 56 days apart (or up to 84 days apart, if necessary).

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, and fever, which were mild to moderate in intensity and disappeared within 48 hours of vaccination.

Sputnik V

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 92% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

What is monoclonal gammopathy?

Signs and symptoms Monoclonal gammopathy

Diagnosis and treatment Monoclonal gammopathy

Related centers and departments Monoclonal gammopathy

Fuentes:

Index

Specialist in Monoclonal gammopathy