Authors' recommendations: There remains a paucity of information on the clinical effectiveness and clinical utility of repeat testing for protein abnormalities in patients with multiple myeloma. In addition, there is a lack of good quality evidence regarding the clinical utility of the serum free light chain assay and no evidence on the clinical utility of serum protein electrophoresis and urine protein electrophoresis published in the last five years. Studies identified regarding the clinical utility of the serum and urine protein electrophoresis, and the serum free light chain test were heterogeneous in their populations, interventions, treatment regimens, and outcomes. In addition, results may be confounded by the small sample sizes and non-comparative nature of the studies. Therefore, caution should be heeded when interpreting these results.British Society for Haematology guidelines recommend the use of the serum free light chain assay to monitor response to therapy in all patients with oligosecretory disease, non-secretory disease, and light chain only multiple myeloma. In addition, monitoring of patients with asymptomatic multiple myeloma should take place at regular three months intervals to assess for any emergence of myeloma-related organ and tissue impairment using the serum and urine M-protein electrophoresis tests and the serum free light chain assay when indicated.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2015

URL for published report: https://www.cadth.ca/protein-testing-patients-multiple-myeloma-review-clinical-effectiveness-and-guidelines

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Rapid Review

Country: Canada

Organisation Name: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health

Contact Address: 600-865 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1S 5S8 Canada. Tel: +1 613 226 2553; Fax: +1 613 226 5392;

Contact Name: requests@cadth.ca

Contact Email: requests@cadth.ca

Copyright: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH)