(F)utility of urine Bence Jones proteins for “routine” screening for plasma cell dyscrasia
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Malvinder S. Parmar
Abstract
Testing urine for Bence Jones Protein (BJP) had been a time old procedure used for screening and monitoring of monoclonal disorders since its description. However, has poor sensitivity and despite advances in diagnostic methods of monoclonal disorders it is being continued to be requested in individuals for evaluation of myeloma or plasma cell disorders. Effective utilization and minimizing untimely or unnecessary investigations is important in the evaluation and management of any medical condition. Though, we are hard-wired during our education with some “trigger” or “peculiar” words that make us jump to actions too quickly, without comprehending the actual problem. Supporting evidence is presented to avoid reflexive use of multiple tests and utilize tests that improve utilization, reduce waste, and uphold the Choosing Wisely principles in providing optimal care to the patients.
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Research funding: None declared.
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Author contributions: The author has accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
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Competing interests: The author states no conflict of interest.
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© 2020 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Reviews
- An overview of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Potential mechanisms of action of convalescent plasma in COVID-19
- Mini Review
- Gap of knowledge in diagnosis of pyoderma gangrenosum in clinical specialties education
- Opinion Papers
- Learning clinical reasoning from the fictional detectives
- Integrating infection and sepsis management through holistic early warning systems and heuristic approaches: a concept proposal
- (F)utility of urine Bence Jones proteins for “routine” screening for plasma cell dyscrasia
- COVID-19 and the Le Chatelier’s principle
- Original Articles
- Are sniffer dogs a reliable approach for diagnosing SARS-CoV-2 infection?
- Using body temperature and variables commonly available in the EHR to predict acute infection: a proof-of-concept study showing improved pretest probability estimates for acute COVID-19 infection among discharged emergency department patients
- Identifying children at high risk for infection-related decompensation using a predictive emergency department-based electronic assessment tool
- Antecedent treat-and-release diagnoses prior to sepsis hospitalization among adult emergency department patients: a look-back analysis employing insurance claims data using Symptom-Disease Pair Analysis of Diagnostic Error (SPADE) methodology
- Rate of sepsis hospitalizations after misdiagnosis in adult emergency department patients: a look-forward analysis with administrative claims data using Symptom-Disease Pair Analysis of Diagnostic Error (SPADE) methodology in an integrated health system
- Real-world virtual patient simulation to improve diagnostic performance through deliberate practice: a prospective quasi-experimental study
- Overutilization and underutilization of autoantibody tests in patients with suspected autoimmune disorders
- Postnatal ultrasound follow-up in neonates with prenatal hydronephrosis
- Clinical performance of amperometry compared with enzymatic ultra violet method for lactate quantification in cerebrospinal fluid
- Case Report – Lessons in Clinical Reasoning
- Lessons in clinical reasoning – pitfalls, myths, and pearls: the contribution of faulty data gathering and synthesis to diagnostic error
- Case Report
- The COVID trap: pediatric diagnostic errors in a pandemic world
- Letters to the Editor
- Atrial arrhythmia and its association with COVID-19 outcome: a pooled analysis
- Serious game training in medical education: potential to mitigate cognitive biases of healthcare professionals
- Revisiting handoffs: an opportunity to prevent error
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Reviews
- An overview of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Potential mechanisms of action of convalescent plasma in COVID-19
- Mini Review
- Gap of knowledge in diagnosis of pyoderma gangrenosum in clinical specialties education
- Opinion Papers
- Learning clinical reasoning from the fictional detectives
- Integrating infection and sepsis management through holistic early warning systems and heuristic approaches: a concept proposal
- (F)utility of urine Bence Jones proteins for “routine” screening for plasma cell dyscrasia
- COVID-19 and the Le Chatelier’s principle
- Original Articles
- Are sniffer dogs a reliable approach for diagnosing SARS-CoV-2 infection?
- Using body temperature and variables commonly available in the EHR to predict acute infection: a proof-of-concept study showing improved pretest probability estimates for acute COVID-19 infection among discharged emergency department patients
- Identifying children at high risk for infection-related decompensation using a predictive emergency department-based electronic assessment tool
- Antecedent treat-and-release diagnoses prior to sepsis hospitalization among adult emergency department patients: a look-back analysis employing insurance claims data using Symptom-Disease Pair Analysis of Diagnostic Error (SPADE) methodology
- Rate of sepsis hospitalizations after misdiagnosis in adult emergency department patients: a look-forward analysis with administrative claims data using Symptom-Disease Pair Analysis of Diagnostic Error (SPADE) methodology in an integrated health system
- Real-world virtual patient simulation to improve diagnostic performance through deliberate practice: a prospective quasi-experimental study
- Overutilization and underutilization of autoantibody tests in patients with suspected autoimmune disorders
- Postnatal ultrasound follow-up in neonates with prenatal hydronephrosis
- Clinical performance of amperometry compared with enzymatic ultra violet method for lactate quantification in cerebrospinal fluid
- Case Report – Lessons in Clinical Reasoning
- Lessons in clinical reasoning – pitfalls, myths, and pearls: the contribution of faulty data gathering and synthesis to diagnostic error
- Case Report
- The COVID trap: pediatric diagnostic errors in a pandemic world
- Letters to the Editor
- Atrial arrhythmia and its association with COVID-19 outcome: a pooled analysis
- Serious game training in medical education: potential to mitigate cognitive biases of healthcare professionals
- Revisiting handoffs: an opportunity to prevent error
