Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance clinic during the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic: caring for the vulnerable in an academic medical center

ABSTRACT

Background: Patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) have clinical features including older age, presence of medical comorbidities, susceptibility to infections, and thrombotic tendencies which are relevant when assessing their risk during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Objective: To study the vulnerability of patients with MGUS during the COVID-19 pandemic, we assessed the local management of MGUS patients and their clinical outcomes. Methods: Retrospective chart reviews were performed for all patients with MGUS seen at a university medical center clinic (2014-2020). Results: A total of 228 MGUS patients were included; 211 patients are alive, 7 patients died before the pandemic, and 10 patients died since the pandemic declaration. The mean age and the overall survival (OS) of the patients who died before versus during the pandemic were 83.0 versus 75.2 years, p = 0.4, and OS 40.6 versus 53.2 months, p = 0.3, respectively. One patient died of COVID-19. Nine patients had venous thromboembolisms (VTE), all of which occurred before the pandemic onset. Conclusions: There were no significant differences found in the mean age or OS of the MGUS patients who died before versus after the pandemic onset. An increase in VTE rates was not seen. Study results are limited by small patient numbers.