Overview
Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is an asymptomatic pre-malignant disorder characterised by excessive production of a single type of antibody or antibody fragment (paraprotein) without additional symptoms or end-organ damage (e.g. anaemia, hypercalcaemia, renal failure, and lytic bone lesions).
MGUS is associated with an increased risk of multiple myeloma.
Investigations
Overview
The investigations of MGUS are to screen for end-organ complications as its diagnosis requires the absence of these. They are similar to multiple myeloma’s investigations:
- Full blood count (FBC) and white cell differential:
- Normal
- Serum calcium:
- Normal
- Urea and electrolytes (U&Es):
- Normal
- Serum protein electrophoresis:
- Positive for M-proteins
- Whole-body skeletal survey:
- To screen for lytic bone lesions
- May be done with MRI
Management
Overview
Patients are followed up indefinitely to screen for the development of multiple myeloma.
