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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffMonoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is a condition in which an abnormal protein (monoclonal protein, or M protein) is in the blood. M protein is produced by plasma cells, a type of white blood cell. Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance usually causes no problems. In some people, however, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance is either associated with another disease or can progress over years to other disorders, including some forms of blood cancer.
Because it's difficult to predict whose condition will progress, if you have monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance you'll usually have annual checkups to monitor your level of M protein. If there's no increase in the protein, monoclonal gammopathy doesn't require treatment.
If monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance does progress, close monitoring leads to early diagnosis and treatment.
- Blade J. Monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance. New England Journal of Medicine. 2006;355:2765.
- Rajkumar SV, et al. Advances in the diagnosis, classification, risk stratification, and management of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance: Implications for recategorizing disease entities in the presence of evolving scientific evidence. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2010;85:945.
- Rajkumar SV. Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 19, 2010.
- Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec11/ch144/ch144d.html. Accessed Oct. 21, 2010.
- Wadhera RK, et al. Prevalence of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance: A systematic review. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2010;85:933.
- Landgren O, et al. Obesity is associated with an increased risk of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance among black and white women. Blood. 2010;116:1056.
- Mikhael JR (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Ariz. Nov. 12, 2010.
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