Etiological study of polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia in a French cohort of hospitalized patients and proposal of a diagnostic aid algorithm

Abstract Serum protein electrophoresis can sometimes reveal polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia. This electrophoretic abnormality can be caused by a variety of conditions and can be difficult to investigate. We sought to investigate screening practices in patients with hypergammaglobulinemia in order...

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Main Authors: Mallory ANDRE, Anne CONTIS, Annie M. BERARD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-12-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-82735-7
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author Mallory ANDRE
Anne CONTIS
Annie M. BERARD
author_facet Mallory ANDRE
Anne CONTIS
Annie M. BERARD
author_sort Mallory ANDRE
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Serum protein electrophoresis can sometimes reveal polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia. This electrophoretic abnormality can be caused by a variety of conditions and can be difficult to investigate. We sought to investigate screening practices in patients with hypergammaglobulinemia in order to establish diagnostic guidance strategies. We selected all patients with polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia greater than or equal to 20 g/L over one year to identify the etiologies causing a significant increase in gammaglobulins in the absence of a monoclonal abnormality. We then selected patients who presented with this abnormality for the first time, with no known etiology. Clinical, medication, biological and imaging data were collected. In our study population with polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia (n = 155), the main etiologies identified were infections (56%), autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases (20%), liver diseases (18%) and hematological and non-hematological malignancies (6%). Once hypergammaglobulinemia was identified, the clinical examination provided diagnostic orientation but was not sufficient to make the diagnosis. The initial assessment must investigate the most common pathologies including analysis of liver function, viral status, the search for signs of intravascular haemolysis, inflammatory markers, and blood cell count. At the second time point (unless there were suggestive clinical signs at presentation), more specific biological and imaging analyses were required. Finally, we propose a diagnostic guideline for a current, rational and optimal medical practice to assist clinicians in the management of patients with hypergammaglobulinemia.
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spelling doaj-art-f5b959ff132d496084d24f57fa7123f62024-12-29T12:16:39ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-12-011411810.1038/s41598-024-82735-7Etiological study of polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia in a French cohort of hospitalized patients and proposal of a diagnostic aid algorithmMallory ANDRE0Anne CONTIS1Annie M. BERARD2Groupe Hospitalier Pellegrin, CHU de Bordeaux – Place Amélie Raba LéonUniversité BordeauxService de Médecine Interne et Immunologie Clinique, Groupe Hospitalier Saint-André, CHU de BordeauxAbstract Serum protein electrophoresis can sometimes reveal polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia. This electrophoretic abnormality can be caused by a variety of conditions and can be difficult to investigate. We sought to investigate screening practices in patients with hypergammaglobulinemia in order to establish diagnostic guidance strategies. We selected all patients with polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia greater than or equal to 20 g/L over one year to identify the etiologies causing a significant increase in gammaglobulins in the absence of a monoclonal abnormality. We then selected patients who presented with this abnormality for the first time, with no known etiology. Clinical, medication, biological and imaging data were collected. In our study population with polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia (n = 155), the main etiologies identified were infections (56%), autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases (20%), liver diseases (18%) and hematological and non-hematological malignancies (6%). Once hypergammaglobulinemia was identified, the clinical examination provided diagnostic orientation but was not sufficient to make the diagnosis. The initial assessment must investigate the most common pathologies including analysis of liver function, viral status, the search for signs of intravascular haemolysis, inflammatory markers, and blood cell count. At the second time point (unless there were suggestive clinical signs at presentation), more specific biological and imaging analyses were required. Finally, we propose a diagnostic guideline for a current, rational and optimal medical practice to assist clinicians in the management of patients with hypergammaglobulinemia.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-82735-7Autoimmune and autoinflammatoryInfectionLiver diseaseHematological and non hematological malignanciesPolyclonal hypergammaglobulinemiaSerum protein electrophoresis
spellingShingle Mallory ANDRE
Anne CONTIS
Annie M. BERARD
Etiological study of polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia in a French cohort of hospitalized patients and proposal of a diagnostic aid algorithm
Scientific Reports
Autoimmune and autoinflammatory
Infection
Liver disease
Hematological and non hematological malignancies
Polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia
Serum protein electrophoresis
title Etiological study of polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia in a French cohort of hospitalized patients and proposal of a diagnostic aid algorithm
title_full Etiological study of polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia in a French cohort of hospitalized patients and proposal of a diagnostic aid algorithm
title_fullStr Etiological study of polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia in a French cohort of hospitalized patients and proposal of a diagnostic aid algorithm
title_full_unstemmed Etiological study of polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia in a French cohort of hospitalized patients and proposal of a diagnostic aid algorithm
title_short Etiological study of polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia in a French cohort of hospitalized patients and proposal of a diagnostic aid algorithm
title_sort etiological study of polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia in a french cohort of hospitalized patients and proposal of a diagnostic aid algorithm
topic Autoimmune and autoinflammatory
Infection
Liver disease
Hematological and non hematological malignancies
Polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia
Serum protein electrophoresis
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-82735-7
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