Monoclonal Gammopathy

Treatment

No treatment is required for people diagnosed with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). Most people with MGUS live a normal life and the protein does not cause problems.

About 20 percent of people with MGUS develop a more serious condition, such as multiple myeloma or other cancers or blood disorders. Therefore, careful observation and follow-up are important.

If you are diagnosed with MGUS, you will usually undergo blood tests in six months and once a year thereafter so any problem can be detected early and appropriate evaluation and treatment started.

Mayo Clinic researchers have developed a new risk-assessment model that can predict risk of progression of MGUS to multiple myeloma. This model uses the size and type of the abnormal protein and a special test called the serum free light chain assay.

Should your MGUS progress to a more serious condition, Mayo Clinic is a leading center for treatment of plasma cell disorders including myeloma and amyloidosis. Mayo Clinic is designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Institutes of Health.

According to current evidence, family members of a person diagnosed with MGUS do not appear to have a substantial increased risk of also having this condition. Therefore, it is not necessary for your family members to be checked for an abnormal protein.

For additional details, see treatment of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance on MayoClinic.com.