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Prevalence of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance in Thailand

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Abstract

Individuals with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) develop multiple myeloma and related malignancies at the rate of 1% per year. Given differences in ethnicity, data on prevalence and risk factors of MGUS in Thai population will be helpful in understanding the pathogenesis of plasma cell disorders and designing an early cancer detection strategy. Subjects of 50 years or older were included. Demographic data and suspected risk factors were collected. Monoclonal proteins were detected using serum protein electrophoresis. Serum was obtained from 3,260 participants; 1,104 males (33.9%) and 2,156 females (66.1%). The median age was 57 years (range 50–93 years). Monoclonal proteins were detectable in 2.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.8–2.8). M spikes were found in gamma- and beta-globulin regions in 50 (1.5%) and 25 (0.8%) subjects, respectively. The prevalence of MGUS in subjects 50–59, 60–69, and 70 years or older was 2.0% (41/1,975), 2.6% (22/851), and 2.8% (12/434), respectively. By multivariate analysis, MGUS was associated with living outside Bangkok (odds ratio 2.25, 95% CI 1.11–4.58). The overall prevalence of MGUS in the Thai population was 2.3%, which was lower than that in Western countries, but comparable to that in Japan.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Department of Clinical Pathology and Division of Immunology, Department of Microbiology, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital for performing laboratory test and Panyawee Chaiyasirisuwan for administrative assistance. This work was supported by a grant from The National Research Council of Thailand.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Transfusion Medicine Unit, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand

    Phandee Watanaboonyongcharoen

  2. Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    Thanyaphong Na Nakorn, Ponlapat Rojnuckarin & Tanin Intragumtornchai

  3. Division of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand

    Panisinee Lawasut

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  1. Phandee Watanaboonyongcharoen
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  2. Thanyaphong Na Nakorn
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Correspondence to Thanyaphong Na Nakorn.

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Watanaboonyongcharoen, P., Nakorn, T.N., Rojnuckarin, P. et al. Prevalence of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance in Thailand. Int J Hematol 95, 176–181 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12185-011-0995-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12185-011-0995-4

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