To investigate the value of 4 kinds of electrophoresis and quantification of serum light chain in diagnosis and typing of multiple myeloma (MM).

The serum and urine of 164 cases of multiple myeloma patients and 45 healthy adults (control group) were collected. American HELLENA agarose gel electrophoresis technique was used for Serum immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE), serum protein electrophoresis (SPE), Bence-Jones protein electrophoresis (B-J) and high resolution urinary protein electrophoresis (HR). The levels of immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA and IgG), total protein (TP), and albumin (ALB), globulin (GLOB) and light chain on both groups were measured by Roche biochemical instrument.

In 164 cases of MM patients, the detection rate of the M protein in SPE was 92.68%, the detection rate of the M protein in IFE was 98.17%, the detection rate of the M protein in B-J was 66.46% and the detection rate of the M protein in HR was 59.76%. M protein was not detected in the electrophoresis of the healthy control group. Compared with the healthy control group, MM patients′ content of TP, ALB, IG, light chain κ, λ was significantly increased (t=34.968, 38.231; F=72.811, 58.611; P<0.05). HR and B-J′s positive rates of light chain patients were significantly higher than that of IgA, IgG and IgM patients (χ²=6.870, 13.236, 19.725; P<0.05).

IFE is the most sensitive detection method for MM diagnose. Combination of a variety of electrophoresis methods and simultaneous detection of immunoglobulin and light chain quantitative detection can effectively avoid missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis. The methods provide evidence for comprehensive assessment of the disease on clinic.