Hi all. Was wondering if anyone could help me a bit with translating CBC lab reports and answer a question about MM - IGA. My father has Multiple Myeloma, IGA. Stage III with bone involvement, currently under treatment for 6 months now, and the cancer still stable/responding to the treatments. Regarding IGA, the normal range is anywhere from 70 to 400. When he walked in the door upon diagnosis in Nov. 2007, he was 3400!
After he started treatments, it declined to the following:
December - 410 (a giant improvement)
Jan/February - 119
March - 105
April/May - 118
My first question is, should there be any concern that the IGA has gone up a little (13 points) since last month? I was hoping to see it 'decrease' even more... like under a 100, but no such luck. They seem to think he's doing well and said he's continuing to 'maintain' -- but i have never heard the word 'remission' - like some people on this board have. Would that mean that one's IGA would have to go -under- 70 to do so? Currently, he is just starting his 4th cycle of Velcade. (initially, he got it twice a week, but it was a little too much for him - so now he gets it once a week).
Also, as far as reading his lab/blood work - i am kind of clueless compared to everyone on this board. This is his latest, which i'm wondering if anyone could help 'translate' or just tell me what the important things are that i should keep track of:
ALBUMIN (SPEP) 3.35
ALPHA-1-GLOB (SPEP) 0.23
ALPHA-2-GLOB (SPEP) 1.06
BETA GLOB (SPEP) 0.84
GAMMA GLOB. (SPEP) 0.72
M SPIKE - is 'blank'... then says 0.06 HI - NOT DETECTED
IGA, SERUM 118
IGG, SERUM is 'blank'... then says 561 LO
IGM, SERUM 100
With notes at bottom....
Serum protein electrophoreses pattern interpretation: *** weak band in the gamma region which may be a paraprotein peak***
And also - IMMUNOFIXATION, SERUM - Faint IGG Lambda Paraprotein Peak Detected.
On page 2 - chemistry.... the following:
Total Protein 6.2, Albumin 4.1, Globulin 2.1, Sodium 136, Potassium 4.1, Chloride 97, BUN 15, Creatinine 0.7, BUN/Creat Ratio 21.4, Calcium 8.9, Bilirubin, Total 1.1 (says HI), Alk Phos 87, AST (SGOT) 20, ALT (SGPT) 13.
Any help or slight translations would be very much appreciated. Thank you!