Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Multiple myeloma (MM) is caused by the malignant proliferation of plasma cells through the bone marrow. The clinical features are due to disordered immunoglobulin synthesis and/or secretion from the cell. The amount of protein in the vascular compartment depends on the balance between the rate of synthesis and catabolism or loss. Electrophoresis is a technique that separates compounds such as proteins according to their different electrical charge. In this way, five main groups of proteins namely albumin and the α1, α2, β, γ-globulins, may be distinguished after protein staining and may be visually compared with those in a normal control serum.
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate total serum protein, serum albumin, serum globulin, and serum protein electrophoresis in Iraqi MM patients.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
This study was conducted during the period from August 2012 until the end of November 2012. The patients were admitted to Medical City Hospital and all the measurements were performed in the Medical Teaching Laboratories in Baghdad. Total serum protein was measured by colorimetric Biuret method, while serum albumin was measured by bromocresol green method, serum globulin, and serum protein electrophoresis were measured in 25 patients with MM; their age range was (50-70) years and compared with 25 healthy controls.
RESULTS:
Total serum protein and serum globulin were significantly increased (86.76±17.05 g/l and 55.36±20.54 g/l respectively) in patients with MM, as compared with their controls, (P=0.0001). While a significant decreased was found in serum albumin (29.6±8.77 g/l) and albumin to globulin ratio (0.64±0.36 g/l) for patients with MM as compared with their controls, (P=0.0001).
CONCLUSION:
Abnormal concentrations of total serum protein, serum albumin, serum globulin, and M-band are associated with MM