Refractometric analysis of proteinemia level and serum electrolyte imbalance of patients with multiple myeloma

Subject of Research. Application of refractometric analysis in multiple myeloma diagnostics is proposed for the first time. Multiple myeloma (MM) is a disease of the hematopoietic system characterized by active monoclonal protein synthesis being detected in blood serum and/or in urine. Method. The essence of method consists in measuring of the sample refractive index. The value of refractive index depends on physicochemical characteristics of the optical mediums. Differences between refractive index of patients with multiple myeloma and donor blood serum connected with typical protein and electrolyte imbalance were researched. Main Results. Refractometric analysis data have shown strong correlations between protein concentrations in serum of patients with multiple myeloma and serumrefractive index. Refractive index of serum of patients with multiple myeloma firstly depends on protein concentration rather than on an electrolyte imbalance. The main tendency for patients with multiple myeloma is a higher level of both protein and electrolytes concentration in serum, in contrast to healthy people. Practical Relevance. According to the obtained data, refractometric analysis is considered as one of the suitable methodsfor express-diagnostics of diseases, in particular, multiple myeloma.