hematology and oncology
Overview of Plasma Cell Disorders
Diagnosis
Plasma cell disorders may be suspected because of clinical manifestations, most often bone disease, renal failure, and low blood counts, or an incidental finding of elevated serum protein or proteinuria that leads to further evaluation with serum or urine protein electrophoresis. Electrophoresis often detects an M-protein and/or elevated serum free light chains. These findings are further evaluated with immunofixation electrophoresis for identification of heavy and light chain classes. 