Quantitation of monoclonal immunoglobulins by immuno-isoelectric focusing and its application for monitoring secretory B cell neoplasia.

A scheme for quantitation of serum and urinary paraproteins is described using isoelectric focusing and scanning densitometry. Paraproteins could be quantified using this system when present at concentrations ranging from 1 mg/ml to 26 mg/ml, depending on the immunoglobulin class. The relevance of these results to monitoring secretory B cell neoplasia and the distinction between monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and myeloma is discussed.