Association Between Autoimmune Diseases and Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance: An Analysis From a Population-Based Screening Study

BACKGROUND: Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is a precursor of multiple myeloma (MM) and related conditions. In previous registry-based, retrospective studies, autoimmune diseases have been associated with MGUS. However, these studies were not based on a screened population and are therefore prone to ascertainment bias.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether MGUS is associated with autoimmune diseases.

DESIGN: A cross-sectional study within iStopMM (Iceland Screens, Treats, or Prevents MM), a prospective, population-based screening study of MGUS.

SETTING: Icelandic population of adults aged 40 years or older.

PATIENTS: 75 422 persons screened for MGUS.

MEASUREMENTS: Poisson regression for prevalence ratios (PRs) of MGUS among persons with or without an autoimmune disease, adjusted for age and sex.

RESULTS: A total of 10 818 participants had an autoimmune disorder, of whom 599 had MGUS (61 with a prior clinical diagnosis and 538 diagnosed at study screening or evaluation). A diagnosis of an autoimmune disease was not associated with MGUS (PR, 1.05 [95% CI, 0.97 to 1.15]). However, autoimmune disease diagnoses were associated with a prior clinical diagnosis of MGUS (PR, 2.11 [CI, 1.64 to 2.70]).

LIMITATION: Registry data were used to gather information on autoimmune diseases, and the homogeneity of the Icelandic population may limit the generalizability of these results.

CONCLUSION: The study did not find an association between autoimmune disease and MGUS in a systematically screened population. Previous studies not done in systematically screened populations have likely been subject to ascertainment bias. The findings indicate that recommendations to routinely screen patients with autoimmune disease for MGUS may not be warranted.

PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: The International Myeloma Foundation and the European Research Council.