Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance

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Treatments and drugs

By Mayo Clinic staff

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance doesn't require treatment, but your doctor is likely to recommend frequent checkups to monitor your health.

A checkup every six to 12 months may be appropriate for most people. If you have a high risk of developing a more serious condition, your doctor may recommend more frequent checkups so that if a disease such as multiple myeloma develops, it can be treated as early as possible.

If you have monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and bone loss, your doctor may recommend treatment with medications called bisphosphonates that help increase your bone density. Examples of bisphosphonates include alendronate (Fosamax), risedronate (Actonel), ibandronate (Boniva) and zoledronic acid (Reclast, Zometa).

References
  1. Blade J. Monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance. New England Journal of Medicine. 2006;355:2765.
  2. 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.
  3. Rajkumar SV. Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 19, 2010.
  4. 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.
  5. Wadhera RK, et al. Prevalence of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance: A systematic review. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2010;85:933.
  6. 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.
  7. Mikhael JR (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Ariz. Nov. 12, 2010.
DS00870 Dec. 4, 2010

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