Association of monoclonal gammopathy and polycythemia vera or essential thrombocythemia: study of a large cohort of patients

Ann Hematol. 2003 Apr;82(4):214-7. doi: 10.1007/s00277-002-0577-x. Epub 2003 Mar 12.

Abstract

Concomitant cases of monoclonal gammopathies with polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET) have been described. We report our experience in a large cohort of patients with ET and PV and the occurrence of M protein in such a population. Retrospective evaluation of clinical and laboratory records of 164 patients with PV and 218 with ET was performed, and 500 subjects matched for sex and age were used as controls. The patients were divided into group A (younger than 55 years), group B (55-70 years), and group C (over 70 years), and the presence of M protein was sought at the time of diagnosis and later during follow-up. M protein was found in 14 patients with myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs), representing 3.6% of patients both with ET and PV, and in 10 subjects of the control group (2%). M protein was detected in 2.1% of MPD patients of group A, in 4.8% of group B, and in 5.7% of group C and in 1.6% of controls of group A, 2.7% of group B, and 2% of group C. No significant statistical difference was observed. The occurrence of M protein in PV and ET does not seem to differ from that observed in the control group. A more relevant increase in the incidence of M protein in MPDs than in the controls was observed by dividing patients and controls by age. However, no statistical significant difference was documented.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Glycoproteins / analysis
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Paraproteinemias / complications*
  • Paraproteinemias / epidemiology
  • Polycythemia Vera / complications*
  • Polycythemia Vera / epidemiology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Thrombocythemia, Essential / complications*
  • Thrombocythemia, Essential / epidemiology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Glycoproteins
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • protein M (glycoprotein)