EMMA 2016 | What are the biggest challenges associated with treating MGUS?

Niels van de Donk, MD, PhD of VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands discusses the challenge of managing secondary conditions related to monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) at the 2016 European Multiple Myeloma Academy (EMMA) in Madrid, Spain. Dr van de Donk explains that MGUS is more common in the elderly who are more likely to have co-morbidities so it is important to confirm whether the monoclonal protein (M protein) generated from the MGUS is related to the secondary condition. Many diagnostic tests can be done to confirm this and if M protein is the cause of the condition then it should be treated accordingly. Dr van de Donk warns that clinicians must be careful because if there is no causal relationship between M protein and the systemic condition, the patient should not be treated for MGUS as this can cause harm.
This programme has been supported by Celgene and Amgen through an unrestricted educational grant to the Video Journal of Hematological Oncology.