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Between 1985 and 1990, bi- or triclonal gammopathies were diagnosed in 6 patients (4 women and 2 men) aged 86-93 years. These gammopathies were diagnosed based on the existence of 2 or 3 monoclonal immunoglobulin peaks separated by immunoelectrophoresis of serum proteins (a technique using monospecific anti-gamma, -kappa and -lambda antisera, followed by immunofixation). The 2 biclonal gammopathies were associated with malignancies: on bronchial small cell carcinoma, the other colon cancer; both patients died soon after the discovery of their respective tumors. The 4 triclonal gammopathies had the following associations: 1 non-Hodgkin's large-cell lymphoma, 1 breast cancer with possible lymphoma and 2 severe inflammatory pathologies that we were unable to further identify; 3 patients in this group died. We present these data in light of the rarity of reported cases of bi- and triclonal gammopathies and the controversies surrounding their possible association with a malignant pathology.