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Monoclonal Gammopathies What are monoclonal gammopathies? Monoclonal gammopathies are conditions in which abnormal proteins (antibodies) are found in the blood. These proteins are made from a small number of plasma cells in the bone marrow. The most common condition linked with

Genetics and Immune Disorders Your immune system is made up of a large network of cells, tissues, and organs. They work together to fight off infections and other harmful substances. But the immune system doesn't always work the way it should. Some disorders make the immune

Immunoglobulin A Deficiency What is IgA deficiency? Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is an antibody blood protein that's part of your immune system. Your body makes IgA and other types of antibodies to help fight off sickness. Having an IgA deficiency means that you have low levels of or

Fluency Disorder What is a fluency disorder? Having a fluency disorder means you have trouble speaking in a fluid or flowing way. You may say the whole word or parts of the word more than once. Or you may pause awkwardly between words. This is called stuttering. You may speak

How Were the COVID-19 Vaccines Made So Fast? Vaccines for COVID-19 are now widely available. In the past, it’s taken many years to create a vaccine that’s ready for public use. But over decades of creating vaccines, research groups and public health agencies have been making the

Eye Cancer: Intraocular Melanoma What is intraocular melanoma? Melanoma is a serious kind of skin cancer. This cancer starts in cells called melanocytes. These cells make the pigment that colors your skin. You also have melanocytes in your eyes. When these cells become cancer, it

Back Pain in Pregnancy Why is back pain so common in pregnancy? One of the most common complaints during pregnancy is back pain. In fact, it's estimated that more than half of all pregnant people have some degree of back discomfort. Most back pain is related to the physical

Dementia and a Healthy Diet: Tips for Caregivers Eating regular, nutritious meals can be a challenge for people with dementia. They may forget to eat or get distracted during meals. Or they may have trouble chewing and swallowing. But as a family caregiver, you can make a big

Urethral Stricture Disease What is urethral stricture disease? Gendered terms are used here to talk about anatomy and health risk. Please use this information in a way that works best for you and your provider as you talk about your care. The urethra is the tube that carries

COVID-19 What is COVID-19? COVID-19 is an infectious disease that most often causes a respiratory illness. You may hear it called COVID or coronavirus disease 2019. It's caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2. There are many types of coronaviruses. They are a common cause of