Artifactual laboratory abnormalities in patients with paraproteinemia

Paraproteinemia, most often as a result of monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS), is very common and its prevalence is expected to increase with the aging of the population. Paraproteins can be associated with a variety of laboratory abnormalities. These may occur as a result of the underlying disease process that causes paraproteinemia, or may result from the paraproteins affecting a physiologic function in vivo. Laboratory abnormalities may also occur artifactually as a result of interference by the paraproteins with a laboratory test in vitro. A wide variety of laboratory tests may be affected, including several commonly obtained tests such as blood counts, serum sodium, calcium, phosphorous, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. There is poor correlation between the concentration or type of paraproteins and the likelihood of interference. Awareness of this possibility is important so as to avoid erroneous diagnostic conclusions or unnecessary testing.