Gammopathy

 Gammopathy

It is the over-production of one or more classes of Immunoglobulin.

It may be:-

1.Polyclonal that is more than 1 Immunoglobulin class over-production

2.Monoclonal that is increase production of single Immunoglobulin class.

Causes:

Polyclonal: It may be due to chronic inflammation such as:-

           1.Infection

           2.Sarcoidosis

           3.Autoimmune disorders

           4.Malignancies

Monoclonal: It is also called M-protein,paraprotein,monoclonal gammopathy.

Causes include:-

            1.Myeloma

            2.Connective tissue disease such as    

                Rheumatoid arthritis or Polymyalgia 

                Rheumatica.

            3.Infection such as HIV

            4.Solid tumors.

Gammopathies are diagnosed by plasma protein electrophoresis.