This is a question on behalf of my mother-in-law, who is 84 years old. She has been suffering from chronic anaemia, loss of appetite, and pain in the back and shoulders. Her specialist (in Kolkata, India) recommended a range of blood tests. The latest set of tests have come back indicating IgG gamma markers in her blood. Her platelet counts are low (115,000), there do not seem to be any abnormalities in her WBC, and her red blood cell markers appear to be by and large fine. Her kidney function - as measured by plasma creatinine - seems fine too, although I think she needs some more detailed tests including perhaps a scan. I am not sure if she has had a measurement of her calcium levels but her other salts are again normal (although her uric acid levels are high.)
Sorry for the lengthy preamble/summary but I would like to understand whether the existing of IgG gamma markers automatically means that her disease has progressed to myeloma, or whether it could be still at the MGUS or smouldering stages. What needs to be known (the precise level of the markers, for example?) before such a determination can be made? Is there a staging of myeloma that happens as in other types of cancers?
I know there are more invasive tests - such as a bone marrow biopsy - that might be needed, or a more detailed CAT, PET or MRI scan, but absent these, is there a way of reaching any kind of informal view based on blood tests alone.
Any advice you could give would be very gratefully received.
