RESUMO
BACKGROUND: International guidelines suggest a screening panel for monoclonal gammopathies that contains serum protein electrophoresis (SPE), free light chain (FLC) measurements and immunofixation. This combination provides the possibility of a timely accurate diagnosis. AIM: To evaluate the sensibility of a simple screening panel (SPE + FLC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed 191 consecutive serum samples of patients with a suspected monoclonal gammopathy (MG). RESULTS: Seventy five patients were diagnosed with MG. The sensitivity and specificity of the combination of SPE + FLC for the diagnosis of monoclonal gammopathy were 95% (95% confidence intervals 89-99) and 99% (95% confidence intervals 96-100), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We were able to validate the international recommendations on the diagnostic accuracy of this simple combination of two tests in serum for monoclonal gammopathy.
Assuntos
Eletroforese das Proteínas Sanguíneas/métodos , Cadeias Leves de Imunoglobulina/sangue , Paraproteinemias/diagnóstico , Biomarcadores/sangue , Humanos , Estudos Prospectivos , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Sensibilidade e EspecificidadeRESUMO
Background: International guidelines suggest a screening panel for monoclonal gammopathies that contains serum protein electrophoresis (SPE), free light chain (FLC) measurements and immunofixation. This combination provides the possibility of a timely accurate diagnosis. Aim: To evaluate the sensibility of a simple screening panel (SPE + FLC). Material and Methods: We analyzed 191 consecutive serum samples of patients with a suspected monoclonal gammopathy (MG). Results: Seventy five patients were diagnosed with MG. The sensitivity and specificity of the combination of SPE + FLC for the diagnosis of monoclonal gammopathy were 95% (95% confidence intervals 89-99) and 99% (95% confidence intervals 96-100), respectively. Conclusions: We were able to validate the international recommendations on the diagnostic accuracy of this simple combination of two tests in serum for monoclonal gammopathy.