Detection rate and clinical significance of monoclonal gammopathy in different age groups in the population of Northern Jutland, Denmark

All serum protein electrophoresis performed in the period 1 May 1979-30 April 1982 in the county of Northern Jutland, Denmark, were studied to find the annual detection rate and the clinical significance of a monoclonal gammopathy (MG) in different age groups. A monoclonal gammopathy was found in 325 persons (185 males and 140 females). The average annual detection rate of MG per 100,000 individuals increased with age in both sexes (p less than 0.01, Kolmogorov test). The lowest and highest detection rate for males/females were 2.8/3.3 (age group less than 50 years) and 236.8/100.3 (age group greater than or equal to 80 years) per 100,000 individuals, respectively. Monoclonal gammopathy was associated with a B-cell malignancy in 28 percent (95% confidence limits 23.9-32.4%) of the persons irrespective of sex and age.