RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine the role of M-band component on serum protein electrophoresis and bone marrow biopsy in the diagnosis. METHODS: Data was collected on 34 patients with MM diagnosed and/or treated. RESULTS: There were equal numbers of men 17 (50%) and women 17 (50%). All patients were first screened for the presence of M-Band using serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) followed by bone marrow biopsy as the confirmatory test. Only two patients screened negative by SPE. On the other hand six patients who tested positive by SPE were negative on biopsy. Thus the sensitivity of the SPE was 96% and specificity 71%. This means that 29 patients had an established diagnosis of MM. There was a slight male predominance when compared to females. CONCLUSION: The data showed that the SPE and bone biopsy are the important tools in the diagnosis of multiple myeloma in a small developing country.