Laboratory methods for analyzing monoclonal proteins - UpToDate

The monoclonal gammopathies (paraproteinemias or dysproteinemias) are a group of disorders characterized by the proliferation of a single clone of plasma cells, which produces an immunologically homogeneous protein commonly referred to as a paraprotein or monoclonal protein (M protein, where the "M" stands for monoclonal). (See 'Definition of an M protein' below.) A complete immunoglobulin (Ig) consists of two heavy polypeptide chains of the same class designated by a capital letter and a corresponding Greek letter: ● Gamma in IgG ● Alpha in IgA ● Mu in IgM ● Delta in IgD ● Epsilon in IgE The heavy polypeptide chains are further subdivided: IgG has four subclasses (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4) and IgA has two (IgA1 and IgA2). To form the intact immunoglobulin, the paired heavy chains are associated with two light chains of the same type, either kappa or lambda, but not both (figure 1). (See "Structure of immunoglobulins".) This topic will review the methods used to detect an M protein i

The monoclonal gammopathies (paraproteinemias or dysproteinemias) are a group of disorders characterized by the proliferation of a single clone of plasma cells, which produces an immunologically homogeneous protein commonly referred to as a paraprotein or monoclonal protein (M protein, where the "M" stands for monoclonal). (See 'Definition of an M protein' below.) A complete immunoglobulin (Ig) consists of two heavy polypeptide chains of the same class designated by a capital letter and a corresponding Greek letter: ● Gamma in IgG ● Alpha in IgA ● Mu in IgM ● Delta in IgD ● Epsilon in IgE The