PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Catherine Atkin AU - Alex Richter AU - Elizabeth Sapey TI - What is the significance of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance? AID - 10.7861/clinmedicine.18-5-391 DP - 2018 Oct 01 TA - Clinical Medicine PG - 391--396 VI - 18 IP - 5 4099 - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/18/5/391.short 4100 - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/18/5/391.full SO - Clin Med2018 Oct 01; 18 AB - Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is characterised by the presence of a monoclonal paraprotein in the blood, without the characteristic end organ damage seen in multiple myeloma. MGUS is more common in older age groups and has a risk of progression to myeloma of 1% per year. Population screening is not currently recommended, but retrospective studies have suggested improvements in myeloma outcomes in those under MGUS follow-up; in addition, MGUS has associated complications, including fracture, osteoporosis, renal disease and infection, which can be treated. Given this increasing evidence of disease related directly to MGUS, strategies for early identification might be needed. In this review, we discuss the complications of MGUS and whether MGUS fulfils the criteria needed to implement a screening programme. We also highlight areas where more evidence is needed, including identification of a higher risk population to make screening more practical and economically viable.