Brief Introduction of MGUS
Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is the term used to describe a laboratory discovery of a strange protein in the blood. This discovery is usually an indicator of certain medical conditions such as multiple myeloma or smoldering myeloma, which are cancerous conditions. For these reasons, people with this protein must be monitored closely to treat the conditions on time.
The strange protein usually discovered in the blood is known as M protein or monoclonal protein. It is produced by a type of white blood cells called plasma cells in the bone marrow. The protein is called monoclonal because there is only one type. While MGUS may be an early indicator of myeloma, it does not always cause adverse effects. However, because of its tendency to cause cancerous conditions, doctors always monitor it closely.
When dividing plasma cells in the blood accumulate and gather around healthy cells of the bone marrow, the level of M protein in the blood increases and MGUS is discovered. Tissue damage usually occurs due to the elevated levels of M protein that migrate into the tissues. In most cases, doctors recommend keeping an eye on people with MGUS by doing regular blood tests to detect any signs of cancer or sickness that can occur over time.