Summaries of Must-Read Clinical Literature, Guidelines, and FDA Actions
Abnormal Protein Occurs More in Blacks Than Whites
Blood Cancer J; ePub 2017 Oct 20; Landren, et al
Among people aged <50 years, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) occurs more frequently in blacks than it does in whites, according to a study involving >12,000 individuals. Participants were between 10 and 49 years of age and were part of the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) III. They included blacks (n=4,073), Mexican-Americans (n=4,146), whites (n=3,595), and others (n=558). Investigators standardized NHANES prevalence rates to the 2000 US population. Among the results:
- MGUS prevalence rate was 0.88%, significantly higher than the 0.22% rate in whites.
- Prevalence in Mexican-Americans was 0.41%.
- The difference between blacks and whites was widest in patients 40 to 49 years of age: 3.26% and 0.53%, respectively.
- MGUS was seen in two 10-to-19-year-olds (both Mexican-American), and in three 20-to-29-year-olds (all of whom were black).
Landgren O, Graubard B, Kumar S, et al. Prevalence of myeloma precursor state monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance in 12372 individuals 10–49 years old: A population-based study from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. [Published online ahead of print October 20, 2017]. Blood Cancer J. doi:10.1038/bcj.2017.97