What is an elevated M spike?

A monoclonal spike (M spike or paraprotein) on serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) is a frequent finding in the general population and typically is pathognomonic of an asymptomatic, premalignant condition called monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS).

What is the normal range for M spike?

Normal range: 0.57-2.63 mg/dL Multiple myeloma or another plasma cell disorder may be indicated by increased lambda free light chains and a decreased kappa/ lambda ratio.

What is a high level of M protein in the blood?

High levels of β2-M may indicate that a large number of myeloma cells is present and that kidney damage has occurred. The level of this protein increases as myeloma becomes more advanced. Lower amounts of serum albumin may indicate a poorer prognosis. Higher blood levels of LDH indicate a poorer prognosis.

What causes elevated M protein?

Many conditions can cause a monoclonal gammopathy, a spike in one protein product; and, not all of these conditions are cancerous. You can have M protein with certain connective tissue disorders, like systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis.

What is considered a high M-spike?

My plasma cell percentage on bone marrow biopsy (BMB) was 13%, IgG 3064 mg/dL, kappa-lambda FLC ratio is 45. I would like to know what is considered a high M-spike?

What’s the normal M-spike level for myeloma?

My impression is that, when you’re talking M-spikes above 5 or 6 g/dL, you’re in the range of clearly unhealthy M-spike levels. Keep in mind that about 15-20 percent of myeloma patients don’t have an M-spike, but instead just have elevated levels of their free light chains.

Can a large MGUS Spike lead to malignancy?

Sometimes MGUS develops into myeloma (or another malignant disease) but most of the time it does not. Having a large M spike (over 3) does tend to go along with malignancy – but yours is so low that I doubt it indicates myeloma.