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MGUS Symptoms/Issues beyond Myeloma
Are there MGUS symptoms/issues beyond myeloma? If I have been diagnosed with MGUS and my onc. tells me that MGUS is asymptomatic, what am I going to do if I have nerve pain, bone pain, kidney problems, etc. etc.?
The FDA says that MGUS is asymptomatic. Therefore, many oncologists follow the party line and tell MGUS patients that their ________(fill in the blank) must be caused by something else.
The video below is a MM specialist that is very knowledgeable, Dr. Brian Durie, explaining that MGUS can have symptoms as well as can lead to other diseases. Thank you Dr. Durie!
As I listen to Dr. Durie’s video, it sounds like his explanation is a bit different than the studies linked below. “Issues…” “Symptoms…” Whatever.
According to Chat GPT “Can monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance present with symptoms? If so, which ones?”
Possible Symptoms or Related Findings:
- Neuropathy:
- Tingling, numbness, or weakness in the extremities due to peripheral nerve damage. This can occur if the monoclonal protein interacts with nerve structures.
- Fatigue:
- Unexplained tiredness, which might be related to underlying inflammation or mild anemia.
- Bone Pain or Fractures:
- In rare cases, MGUS can be associated with bone loss or skeletal issues, although this is more common in related disorders like multiple myeloma.
- Skin Changes:
- Skin rashes or purpura may occur, especially if the monoclonal protein is associated with vascular or immune activity.
- Infections:
- Increased susceptibility to infections due to immune dysfunction.
- Hyperviscosity Symptoms (rare):
- Headaches, visual changes, or mucosal bleeding due to thickened blood from elevated protein levels.
When MGUS May Present with Symptoms:
If symptoms are present, it may indicate progression to or association with related conditions, such as:
- Multiple Myeloma
- Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia
- AL Amyloidosis
- Cryoglobulinemia
In my mind, as a laymen who was diagnosed with pre-myeloma and full MM about a year later, is that not only does MGUS present symptoms sometimes, but it can lead to other diseases altogether. Try to get a thorough diagnosis aka work-up from a specialist if you have symptoms.
Email me at David.PeopleBeatingCancer@gmail.com with questions about your MGUS symptoms.
Thank you,
David Emerson
- MM Survivor
- MM Cancer Coach
- Director PeopleBeatingCancer
Editorial: Monoclonal gammopathies of clinical significance: Clinical and therapeutic implications
“Monoclonal gammopathy of clinical significance (MGCS) is an umbrella term to describe a broad spectrum of disorders with remarkable organ dysfunctions related to the underlying non-malignant B or plasma cell clone. Although the clone itself is typically very small, it is associated with diverse clinical manifestations through different mechanisms, such as monoclonal protein deposition, the biological activity of the monoclonal immunoglobulin, or angiogenic/inflammatory cytokine hyper-secretion (1, 2).
Some predominantly involve a single organ, commonly peripheral nerves, kidney, or skin, while others are systemic diseases with syndromic presentations…
Nonetheless, not every patient with an underlying monoclonal gammopathy has MGCS, given the rising prevalence of true monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) with age (3). There are no features of the serum protein electrophoresis that can distinguish MGCS from MGUS…
Nerve involvement
From Biology to Treatment of Monoclonal Gammopathies of Neurological Significance
“Monoclonal gammopathy and peripheral neuropathy are common diseases of elderly patients, and almost 10% of patients with neuropathy of unknown cause have paraprotein. However, growing evidence suggests that several hematological malignancies synthesize and release monoclonal proteins that damage the peripheral nervous system through different mechanisms. The spectrum of the disease varies from mild to rapidly progressive symptoms, sometimes affecting not only sensory nerve fibers, but also motor and autonomic fibers.
Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach, mainly between hematologists and neurologists, is recommended in order to establish the correct diagnosis of monoclonal gammopathy of neurological significance and to tailor therapy based on specific genetic mutations…”
Kidney involvement-
Monoclonal Gammopathies of Renal Significance (MGRS)
“MGRS is basically defined as a kidney disease related to the presence of an M-protein, diagnosed by demonstration of monoclonal deposits in the kidney biopsy. Monoclonal deposits can consist of monoclonal LC, heavy chain, or intact Igs. Restriction to a single class of LC and/or heavy chain is mandatory [44,45,46,47,48,49]…”
Skin Involvement-
Monoclonal Gammopathies of Skin Significance
Some dermatologic entities are strongly associated with the presence of a Monoclonal Gammopathies, and they should be referred to as MGSS. Again, the demonstration of the association between the M-protein or the clone itself with skin damage is key. As expected, a skin biopsy plays a critical role in the diagnostic process.
The direct toxicity of M-protein, host immune abnormalities, specific cytokines, and Plasma Cell infiltration can, among other mechanisms, produce severe skin manifestations…”
Eye involvement
Monoclonal Gammopathies of Ocular Significance
The cornea is normally a transparent structure. Several abnormalities can cause corneal opacities, making vision difficult. Patients with Monoclonal Gammopathies should be included in the differential diagnosis of acquired corneal opacities, as this ocular finding could be the initial manifestation of a systemic disease that can potentially be life threatening.
As happens in other groups of MGCS with kidney or skin biopsies, corneal biopsy is of great diagnostic value. However, when it is not feasible due to the location of the corneal pathology, aqueous sampling may be an alternative approach for diagnostic purposes. The term MGOS was proposed for patients diagnosed with MGUS, in which the only significant clinical finding is ocular manifestation [54,76,77,78]. A regular, yearly ophthalmic checkup of these patients to improve their quality of life has been suggested.
MGUS symptoms/issues beyond myeloma
MGUS symptoms/issues beyond myeloma
MGUS symptoms/issues beyond myeloma