Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To study effectiveness of agarose gel electrophoresis as a screening tool for early detection of multiple myeloma. DESIGN: A prospective study in OPD setting. PATIENTS: Two hundred and nineteen patients (126 females and 93 males) in the age group of 28-82 year referred to Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation from various departments for treatment of unexplained pains and aches (with or without osteoporosis). They had been investigated and were adjudged organic disease free. INTERVENTION: Agarose gel electrophoresis was carried out on sera of these patients. Bone marrow aspiration was done for all those patients whose serum showed a monoclonal protein peak. Characterisation of M peak was also carried out by Immunoelectrophoresis. MAIN RESULT: Out of the 219 patients, sera of 29 patients showed a monoclonal protein peak. Immunoelectrophoresis and bone marrow aspiration confirmed the diagnosis of multiple myeloma in these patients. 17 were male and 12 were female patients. All of them were over 50 years of age. CONCLUSION: Agarose gel electrophoresis was found to be very sensitive test for early detection of multiple myeloma cases. Hence it was strongly recommended to be used as a screening test for all elderly people who present with unexplained aches and pains with or without osteoporosis.