Sixty five cases of multiple myeloma were studied at Department of Laboratory
Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital over a period of 4 years and 4 months
from July 1979 to Sept. 1983. M-components were analysed by protein electrophoresis
and Immunoelectrophoresis of the serum and the urine and the results are as follows:
1. Majority(94%) of patients were 40 years of age or older and peak incidence was
noted during the 6th decade. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 55 years. Male
to female ratio was 2.4 : 1.
2. Serum protein electrophoresis showed a M-peak in 79%, hypogammaglobulinemia in
13% and normal pattern in 8%. M-peak was noted on gamma area in all of the IgG
cases, and on beta area in majority of IgA cases. Hypogammaglobulinemia or normal
pattern was noted in some of IgD cased and majority of light chain cases. Urine protein
electrophoresis revealed a M-peak in 84%.
3. Immunoelectrophoresis of the serum revealed monoclonal protein on 62 cases out of
the 65 cases tested. Two cases had monoclonal Bence Jones protein in the concentrated
urine only, and one case had no monoclonal protein in the serum or the urine. The
distribution of M-components were IgG 27 caes(42%) , IgA 16 cases(25%) , light chain
15 cases(23%), IgD 5 cases(8%), IgE 1 case(1.5%) and nonsecretory type 1 case(1.5%).
Kappa to lambda ratio of all cases was 1.6 : 1.
4. Average level (range) of serum M-components were 4.87g/dl (2.61 ∼8.80) in 1gG
type, 4.80g/dl(0.70∼6.73) in IgA type and 2.3g9/dl(0.29∼5.01) in IgD type.
5. Positive rate of Bence Jones proteinuria was 40% by heat teat, 84% by
electrophoresis and 95% by immunoelectrophoresis.
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