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Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) occurs in 3% to 4% of older individuals (age, >60) and is identified by the presence of serum monoclonal immunoglobulin without overt multiple myeloma (MM), other plasma cell dyscrasia, or lymphoproliferative disorder. About 1.0% to 1.5% of MGUS cases per year progress to MM or related diseases. However, we do not know whether MGUS precedes MM in all cases. To find out, two groups of investigators prospectively collected blood samples from MM patients and analyzed them for evidence of preexisting MGUS using serum protein electrophoresis, immunofixation, and serum-free light-chain assays.
In the first study, researchers assessed serum samples from 71 MM patients (median age at MM diagn…