m protein

W

wateripple

New member
My Dr. took blood and urine tests.I have painful bones.When results came back it showed there was a trace of m protein.He has repeated tests.Is there a chance that the m protein could disappear or will it show in the second test.I'd be greatful for any info.
 
It could be a laboratory error and come back clear this time.

Any amount of M protein is considered abnormal.

M protein is also called monoclonal immunoglobulin, an "M spike" or paraprotein.
 
I don't mean to sound stupid but what does it mean that
protien shows in your urine???My sister was just reciently told that she has amyloid disease and this really concerns me because I have no Idea what this is.... please if there is anyone on this site that knows anything at all about this Amyloid's disease please help us to unders stand... the Dr. says that the next test they will be doing is a bone marrow byopsy... this just is freaking me out
Kimmie-Kat
 
Hi doreen, welcome to the boards. I'll attempt to explain to you what M-protein means.

There are a subset of your white blood cells called B-cells which make antibodies. Picture these cells as different families. Each family makes a specific type of antibody, and every person in that family makes the SAME antibody; however, there are many different families in the bone marrow each of whom have their own specific antibody.

Does that make sense?

Okay, so in certain blood disorders, ONE of the families begins to reproduce out of control and grows in numbers WELL in excess of other families. They also start to hyperproduce their own specific antibody. If a person has one of these out of control families, if you do a test on the urine or blood called a "protein electrophoresis" there will be an even distribution of all the other proteins, but there will be a spike called an "M-spike" which represents the huge overproduction of a particular antibody by the family that has grown out of control.

Does that make sense?

When someone has an M-spike, you have to rule out two malignant blood diseases namely: Multiple Myeloma and Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia. In multiple myeloma, the overproduced antibody can deposit in the kidney and cause damage, and additionally, the cells which are in excess can secrete factors which cause your bones to become porous. If these cells are allowed to grow unchecked, they eventually push out all the other healthy cells in the bone marrow so normal things like your OTHER white blood cells, your red blood cells and your platelets can not be produced.

If an M-spike appears, to rule out the above diagnoses, one needs to do a bone marrow biopsy to see the state of the marrow. If there is a family seen which is growing in excess, then the diagnosis is made. If there is no particularly excess cells around, doctors call this "Monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance". These people will be watched closely in case they do develop one of the above disorders I mentioned.

Now that I've given an explanation, do you have any questions?
 
Crazy Kim,

I'm sorry to hear your sister has amyloid disease. Amyloid disease is similar to what I explained earlier. First of all, what is amyloid? It is a disease where there is an excess production of a protein called amyloid, which then ends up depositing in different tissues including the liver, the heart, the brain and the GI tract. Over time, the deposition of all this protein leads to organ dysfunction and can lead to death if not treated.

There are two types of amyloidosis: AA and AL. In AL amyloidosis, there is a family of cells in the bone marrow which hyperproduce amyloid and secrete it in to the body. This leads to the organ dysfunction I mentioned earlier. This type of amyloidosis can sometimes be treated with a bone marrow transplant. In a bone marrow transplant, doctors give very high dose chemo to totally kill the bone marrow in the hopes that the cells producing the amyloid ALSO die. Then, bone marrow from a living related donor is infused and the person has new bone marrow and hopefully doesn't develop amyloid again.

The second type is AA amyloidosis. This happens in people who have chronic inflammation in the body. This includes conditions like familial mediterranean fever, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and sometimes chronic infections as well. In chronic inflammation, the cells of the immune system secrete amyloid. This is actually a normal thing; however, over a long period of time if this secretion continues, the amyloid can deposit in organs similar to in AL amyloidosis. If you can treat the underlying cause of the inflammation, one can stop the progression of this type of disease.

Does your sister have any chronic illnesses?
 
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