Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
XXXIII. WASPaLM World Congress & XXIV. National Clinicial Biochemistry Congress 16-20 October 2024, Granada Congress Center Belek-Antalya/Türkiye, Antalya, Türkiye, 16 - 20 Ekim 2024, ss.49
Introduction: Protein electrophoresis is a laboratory method used to separate protein molecules based
on their size and electrical charge. Agarose gel or capillary zone electrophoresis are main techniques
used to identify monoclonal gammopathies and detect serum protein disorders. Capillary
electrophoresis immunotyping (IT) and gel Immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) are used to confirm
the presence of M-protein and to determine its subtype. Although IFE is a gold standard technique,
capillary electrophoresis IT test is easier to perform and less time-consuming. The aim of this study
was to detect the number of IT results which was later referred to be analyzed in gel IFE. Moreover, to
analyze the importance of this referral to the final report of the result.
Method: In this retrospective study, the results of patients who applied to our hospital between March
2023 and February 2024 for IT were evaluated. According to the IT assessment by at least 4 clinical
biochemistry specialist/residency student, results which required further evaluation by gel IFE to be
reported, were classified into two groups. Group I for patients’ results included suspicion of
monoclonal gammopathy. According to their suspicion, sub-groups were categorized as; (Ia) samples
with hypogammaglobulinemia, (Ib) samples that were thought that they are uncertain/difficult to
evaluate by only one specialist and (Ic) by two or more specialists. Group II for samples with
gammopathy that couldn’t be subtyped by IT technique. Sub-groups were categorized as; (IIa) samples
with the suspicion of biclonality, (IIb) samples need to be analyzed to detect whether IG D or IG E
monoclonal gammopathy is present or not and (IIc) samples which require processing with
mercaptoethanol for certainty of biclonality.
Results: In total 1056 IT results were analyzed, 46.7% of the results required gel IFE. According to
the IFE results: Monoclonal gammopathy was detected in 49.6% of group I, the results were
distributed as: 54.1% in (Ia), 40.4% in (Ib) and 53.9% in (Ic), to subgroups. Biclonal gammopathy was
detected in 59.6% of group (IIa), IG D monoclonal gammopathy was detected in 20% of group (IIb)
and dimeric gammopathy was detected in 37.5% of group (IIc).
Conclusion: It’s important to note that, evaluating IT combination with gel IFE is fundamental to
detect all challenging gammopathies. In addition, it’s beneficial to work as a team with multiple
experienced specialists to distinguish minimal gammopathies within IT evaluation.
Keywords: Blood protein electrophoresis, capillary electrophoresis, immunoelectrophoresis,
monoclonal gammopathies