A European study focusing on the elderly population of Iceland explored the risk factors of multiple myeloma and its preceding state, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS).
MGUS is a premalignant asymptomatic condition where an individual has an abnormal immunoglobulin fragment known as myeloma or M-protein. The M-protein is indicative of abnormal plasma cell proliferation, a prominent characteristic of multiple myeloma. MGUS precedes all cases of multiple myeloma but not all MGUS patients progress to develop the malignancy. However, there are no methods predictive of MGUS outcome and progression to multiple myeloma.
Further information: Risk factors of multiple myeloma