Unraveling the Possibilities of Monoclonal Protein Migration, Identification, and Characterization in SPEP on Capillary Zone Electrophoresis

• Published in: Journal of laboratory physicians Vol. 14; no. 4; pp. 505 - 510
• Main Authors: Prisi, Shailata, Khurana, Vatsala, Saijpaul, Rajni, Verma, Rashmi, Chandra, Lal, Koner, Bidhan Chandra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: A-12, 2nd Floor, Sector 2, Noida-201301 UP, India Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd 01-12-2022
• Subjects: capillary zone electrophoresis; Case Report; m-spike; monoclonal protein; multiple myeloma; variable migration; monoclonal protein; capillary zone electrophoresis; multiple myeloma; variable migration; M-spike
• ISSN: 0974-2727; 0974-7826
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1744242

Abstract
Serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) is a method by which proteins present in serum are separated into different fractions based on their molecular weight and electric charge. Presence of M spike, composed of monoclonal protein, on electrophoretogram is a characteristic finding that can be seen in monoclonal gammopathies like multiple myeloma. M spike is most commonly seen in the gamma region however, the M-spike can be observed in fraction other than the Y fraction as well i.e. in the beta region and rarely alpha region. Here we have enumerated few cases where M protein has been seen in fractions other than the gamma region. Thus one needs to be cautious about the variable appearance of M-spike during interpretation of SPEP as some physiological proteins if elevated can also give rise to similar spike sometimes referred as pseudo monoclonal pattern.