Identification (typing) of paraproteins
The detection of a paraprotein band must always be followed up with the specific typing of the band. It is important that the heavy and light chain components are identified because this confirms monoclonality and the paraprotein type may give the clinician additional information about the underlying tumour and prognosis. Electrophoretic pattern of a patient's sample may change during the course of their disease or treatment so the initial investigations can serve as a point of reference. Complete disappearance of the paraprotein is rare but is occurring increasingly with treatment regimens using high dose chemotherapy and bone marrow or stem cell transplantation. An oligoclonal-banding pattern is sometimes seen in patients after bone marrow transplantation and it is important to distinguish this from the original paraproteinaemia.
Quantification of serum paraproteins
Immunochemical quantification of paraproteins is unreliable. The densitometric scan