BMJ  2005;330 (9 April), doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7495.0-a

Test for M component in patients suspected of having osteoporosis

Measuring monoclonal bands (M component) in serum should be part of the investigation of patients referred to osteoporosis clinics, as multiple myeloma is 75 times more common in patients with osteoporosis. In a cross sectional study including 799 people newly referred to the clinic with suspected osteoporosis, Abrahamsen and colleagues (p 818) found that 1 in 20 patients with newly diagnosed osteoporosis had multiple myeloma or monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. As a diagnostic test for multiple myeloma in patients with osteoporosis, M component in serum had a specificity of 95% and a positive predictive value of 17.6%.

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Relevant Article

Utility of testing for monoclonal bands in serum of patients with suspected osteoporosis: retrospective, cross sectional study

Bo Abrahamsen, Ivan Andersen, Susanne S Christensen, Jonna Skov Madsen, and Kim Brixen
BMJ 2005 330: 818. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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