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Secondary Immunodeficiency in MGUS
According to research secondary immunodeficiency in MGUS patients is common though not universal. The issue of being immune compromised at diagnosis is difficult as the research linked below makes it sound as though all MGUS patients are compromised at diagnosis.
Asked the question below, ChatGPT presents a slightly different take on secondary immunodeficiency in MGUS patients-
Do all patients diagnosed with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance have secondary immunodeficiency?
Not all patients diagnosed with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) develop secondary immunodeficiency, but many do experience some level of immune dysfunction. MGUS is a condition characterized by the presence of abnormal monoclonal proteins in the blood, produced by a clone of plasma cells. While MGUS is often asymptomatic and does not directly cause symptoms of immunodeficiency, it can lead to a weakened immune system in some individuals due to the following reasons:
- Decreased Immune Globulin Production: The production of monoclonal proteins can interfere with the body’s ability to produce normal immunoglobulins (antibodies). This can lower levels of polyclonal immunoglobulins, which play a crucial role in immune defense, potentially resulting in an increased risk of infections.
- Increased Risk of Infections: Studies have shown that patients with MGUS may have an increased risk of certain infections, especially respiratory infections. However, not all patients with MGUS experience these issues, and the degree of immune suppression varies widely.
- Association with Progression to Other Conditions: While MGUS is a benign condition, a small percentage of cases progress to more severe plasma cell disorders like multiple myeloma or related blood cancers. These conditions are often associated with more pronounced immune deficiencies due to both the disease process and the treatments used.
- Comorbidities: Patients with MGUS are often older adults, and they may have other conditions or treatments that contribute to immunodeficiency.
In summary, secondary immunodeficiency in MGUS is relatively common but not universal. Monitoring immune function and immunoglobulin levels is usually part of regular follow-up for patients with MGUS, especially if they show signs of immune dysfunction.
The goal of blog posts on PeopleBeatingCancer.org is to offer an explanation of a problem and then offer possible therapies to address that problem whether conventional or non-conventional.
In the case of pre-myeloma, SBP, MGUS or SMM, conventional oncology doesn’t offer therapies of any kind (other than chemo…). My thinking then, is to add non-conventional immune boosting therapies to the Pre-MM Cancer Coaching program of Pre-Habilitation such as:
man hand holding his nutritional supplemets, healthy lifestyle background.
- Nutrition
- Supplementation
- Exercise
- Lifestyle therapies
When I was diagnosed with a single bone plasmacytoma (SBP) in 1994, I was told that there was nothing I could do to forstall progression to MM. I wish I knew then what I know now.
Email me at David.PeopleBeatingCancer@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Thank you,
David Emerson
- MM Survivor
- MM Cancer Coach
- Director PeopleBeatingCancer
Comparative study of immune status to infectious agents in elderly patients with multiple myeloma, Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia, and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance
“Whereas patients with multiple myeloma (MM) have a well-documented susceptibility to infections, this has been less studied in other B-cell disorders, such as Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia (WM) and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS).
We investigated the humoral immunity to 24 different pathogens in elderly patients with MM (n = 25), WM (n = 16), and MGUS (n = 18) and in age-matched controls (n = 20). Antibody titers against
- pneumococci,
- staphylococcal alpha-toxin,
- tetanus and diphtheria toxoids, and
- varicella,
- mumps, and
- rubella viruses
were most depressed in MM patients, next to lowest in WM and MGUS patients, and highest in the controls.
In contrast, levels of antibodies specific for staphylococcal teichoic acid, Moraxella catarrhalis, candida, aspergillus, and measles virus were similarly decreased in MM and MGUS patients.
Comparable titers in all study groups were seen against Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), borrelia, toxoplasma, and members of the herpesvirus family.
Finally, a uniform lack of antibodies was noted against Streptococcus pyogenes, salmonella, yersinia, brucella, francisella, and herpes simplex virus type 2.
To conclude, although MM patients displayed the most depressed humoral immunity, significantly decreased antibody levels were also evident in patients with WM and MGUS, particularly against Staphylococcus aureus, pneumococci, and varicella. Conversely, immunity was retained for Hib and certain herpesviruses in all study groups…
Disease‐connected SID include solid tumors, chronic and acute lymphoproliferative and myeloproliferative disorders (1)…
In MM patients, the existence of a milieu of immunosuppressive activity has a fundamental role in T-cell immunodeficiency. Several immunosuppression elements are produced by the bone marrow cells, which alter innate and adaptive immune responses (43)…
Recent reports have proposed that new MM drugs and elevated doses of steroids can determine a permanent risk of infection, even in subjects whose myelomatous disease is well controlled.
This infection risk seems to persist high throughout the first year after diagnosis (50). With the use of immunotherapy, therapeutic protocols have an even more pronounced immunosuppressive effect. Moreover, these treatments are maintained for long time, increasing the risk of infection-correlated death…