Immunoelectrophoresis - urine

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Female urinary tract

Male urinary tract

Immunoglobulin electrophoresis - urine; Gammaglobulin electrophoresis - urine; Urine immunoglobulin electrophoresis; IEP - urine

Normally there is no, or only a small amount, of protein in the urine. When there is protein in the urine, it normally consists primarily of urine albumin.

Immunoglobulin (antibodies) in the urine can result from kidney disorders such as IgA nephropathy or IgM nephropathy. It can also occur in other disorders such as multiple myeloma (a form of cancer). (See also immunoelectrophoresis - serum.)

In some neoplastic disorders (for example, multiple myeloma or chronic lymphocytic leukemia), a single clone of lymphocytes produces one type of immunoglobulin -- a monoclonal immunoglobulin. This is identifiable as monoclonal by immunoelectrophoresis. Some people have monoclonal immunoglobulins, but they do not have a neoplastic disorder.

Macroglobulinemia of Waldenstrom is an additional condition under which the test may be performed.

Review Date: 02/01/2005
Reviewed By: Rita Nanda, M.D., Department of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.