Epidemiological profile of monoclonal gammopathies: experience of the Department of Biochemistry and Toxicology at the Avicenne Military Hospital in Marrakesh

Introduction: Monoclonal gammopathies constitute a highly heterogeneous group of diseases with different aetiologies. These conditions are linked to the uncontrolled proliferation of a single lymphoplasmacytic or plasmacytic clone within the haematopoietic tissue. The aim of our study is to investigate the epidemiological profile of monoclonal gammopathies at the Biochemistry and Toxicology Laboratory of the Avicenne Military Hospital in Marrakech and to clarify the diagnostic methods.
Materials and methods: This is a retrospective descriptive study covering a 13-month period (January 2025 to January 2026). Data were collected by analysing monoclonal peaks from various electrophoresis tests carried out in the HMA’s biochemistry laboratory.
Results: Of all the monoclonal peaks observed on electrophoresis, 62 met the criteria for monoclonal gammopathy. The mean age of the patients was 67.08 years, with a predominance of males. The sex ratio (M/F) was 1.21.  In the biochemical assessment, electrophoresis revealed monoclonal peaks estimated at an average of 15.78 g/L, with values ranging from 1.75 g/L to 99.5 g/L. Immunofixation was performed on our patients, revealing the following isotypes: IgG Kappa 51.06%, IgG Lambda 31.91%, IgM Kappa 6.32%, IgM Lambda 4.25%, IgA Kappa 2.12%, Lambda light chains 2.12%. Renal failure was subsequently noted in 18 cases; serum calcium was normal in 39 cases; hyperproteinemia was observed in 17 cases; and elevated levels of CRP, LDH and B2-microglobulin were noted in 25, 15 and 10 cases respectively. In terms of haematological findings, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate was elevated in 19 patients and 41 patients presented with anaemia.
Conclusion: The epidemiological profile of patients in our study appears similar to that observed in other series. This highlights the importance of developing methods for early diagnosis and expanding their use, in order to complement the prognostic assessment of patients. These parameters are crucial for selecting the appropriate treatment strategy and improving the survival of each patient.