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Multiple Myeloma: A Case of Atypical Presentation on Protein Electrophoresis

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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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Apollo Hospitals, Bhubaneswar, India

    Nihar Ranjan Dash & Biswajit Mohanty

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  1. Nihar Ranjan Dash
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  2. Biswajit Mohanty
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Correspondence to Biswajit Mohanty.

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Dash, N.R., Mohanty, B. Multiple Myeloma: A Case of Atypical Presentation on Protein Electrophoresis. Ind J Clin Biochem 27, 100–102 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12291-011-0178-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12291-011-0178-3

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