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Case Reports
. 2012 Jan;27(1):100-2.
doi: 10.1007/s12291-011-0178-3. Epub 2011 Nov 18.

Multiple myeloma: a case of atypical presentation on protein electrophoresis

Nihar Ranjan Dash  1 , Biswajit Mohanty
Affiliations
Case Reports

Multiple myeloma: a case of atypical presentation on protein electrophoresis

Nihar Ranjan Dash et al. Indian J Clin Biochem. 2012 Jan.

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.

Keywords: Agarose gel protein electrophoresis; Biclonal gammopathy; Immunofixation electrophoresis; M-protein; Multiple myeloma.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Agarose gel protein electrophoresis shows hypoalbuminemia with gross increase in alpha-2 and beta globulins. The two spikes seen in the scan corresponds to alpha-2 and beta globulins regions
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Immunofixation electrophoresis reveals two dense bands in SP region. The two bands immunologically correspond to two IgA-κ bands
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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