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Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance

The Basics

Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate пїЅ пїЅ

What is monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance? " пїЅ Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, called "MGUS " пїЅ for short, is a condition that involves 1 type of white blood cell. White blood cells fight infections in the body. They are made in the bone marrow, which is the middle part of bones. пїЅ пїЅ

When people have MGUS, their bone marrow makes too many of 1 type of white blood cell. These white blood cells make a protein called monoclonal protein (M-protein). пїЅ пїЅ

MGUS causes no symptoms and, in most cases, does not lead to any problems. But in some cases, MGUS can turn into a serious condition. One serious condition is multiple myeloma, which is a cancer of the white blood cells involved in MGUS. пїЅ пїЅ

What are the symptoms of MGUS? " пїЅ MGUS does not cause any symptoms. Your doctor or nurse will suspect you have it after you have lab tests done for another reason. пїЅ пїЅ

Is there a test for MGUS? " пїЅ Yes. If your doctor or nurse suspects you have MGUS from other lab test results, he or she will do an exam and further tests. These can include: пїЅ пїЅ

  • Blood tests
  • Urine tests
  • A bone marrow biopsy " пїЅ For this test, a doctor takes a very small sample of the bone marrow. Then another doctor looks at the sample under a microscope to see which cells are present.
  • Imaging tests, such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRI scans " пїЅ Imaging tests create pictures of the inside of the body.

How is MGUS treated? " пїЅ MGUS does not need treatment. But your doctor will monitor your condition closely. That way, he or she will know if your MGUS turns into a serious condition that does need treatment. пїЅ пїЅ

To monitor your condition, your doctor will talk with you and do exams on a regular basis. He or she might also order repeat blood and urine tests. How often these tests are done depends on your individual situation. пїЅ пїЅ

People with MGUS have a higher-than-normal chance of breaking a bone. Because of this, your doctor will check you for osteoporosis, a disease that makes your bones weak. If you have osteoporosis, he or she will treat it. If you dont have osteoporosis, your doctor will recommend things you can do to help keep your bones strong. This includes getting enough calcium and vitamin D. пїЅ пїЅ

What symptoms should I watch for? " пїЅ You should watch for symptoms that could mean your MGUS has changed into a serious condition. This change can happen quickly. Let your doctor or nurse know right away if you have any of the following symptoms: пїЅ пїЅ

  • Bone pain
  • Feeling more tired or weak than usual
  • Fever
  • Night sweats that soak your clothes
  • Headache or dizziness
  • Weight loss
  • Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the chest, lower back, or legs
  • Blurry vision or trouble hearing
  • Bleeding more than usual

These symptoms can also be caused by other conditions that are not serious. But your doctor or nurse will want to check that your MGUS hasn't changed into a condition that needs treatment. пїЅ пїЅ

All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. пїЅ пїЅ

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. пїЅ пїЅ

Topic 86741 Version 1.0 пїЅ пїЅ

Release: 22.8 - C22.206 пїЅ пїЅ

пїЅ пїЅ 2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. пїЅ пїЅ

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пїЅ пїЅ 2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. пїЅ пїЅ