An immunological based study of monoclonal gammopathies among suspected individuals in Kashmir region

Serum and urine samples from 513 patients clinically suspected of monoclonal gammopathies over a period of five years (1992-97) were subjected to various immunological procedures viz, electrophoresis, immunoelectrophoresis and immunoglobulin estimations. Laboratory investigations confirmed gammopathies in 10.33%. It was observed that overall age of incidence for monoclonal gammopathies in both sexes was between 42-72 years with a male to female ratio of 1.4∶1. Predominant paraprotein detected was IgG type (75.47%) followed by IgA (16.98%) and Bence Jones proteins (7.55%). Amongst positive patients, 64.16% were having kappa (k) type light chains and 35.84% lambda (δ) type light chains. 69.39% patients with serum M component (IgG and IgA) had Bence Jones proteinuria. Densitometric scanning revealed that majority of IgG type paraprotein was found in the slow gamma globulin region and majority of IgA type paraprotein was found equally distributed between beta and fast gamma globulin regions. Both types had decreased albumin and alpha-2-globulin concentrations as compared to normal controls. Immunoglobulin levels in patients with paraprotein had very high levels of serum IgG (6467.0 mg%) and IgA (2714.0 mg%) in respective types of monoclonal gammopathies; the rest of immunoglobulin classes were either at normal or decreased levels.