Interpretation
Quantitative analysis does not distinguish between monoclonal, oligoclonal, or polyclonal elevation. Serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) and immunofixation should be used to determine if any increase is due to the presence of a monoclonal band.
A monoclonal elevation of IgG is indicative of gammopathies such as:
•Multiple myeloma
•Monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance (MGUS)
•Other related disorders.
Oligoclonal or polyclonal elevation of IgG may arise from:
•Proliferative liver diseases (e.g. Hepatitis, cirrhosis)
•Connective tissue diseases
•Infections, acute and chronic.
Immunoglobulin levels may also be elevated if the blood is extracted from the umbilical cord of neonates where there has been an intrauterine or perinatal infection.
IgG deficiencies may be due to:
•Primary or secondary immunodeficiency.
•immunosuppression due to the presence of a plasma cell dyscrasia.
Test Method
Nephelometric immunoassay on Siemens BNII.
