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Once set, light chain class remains fixed for the life of the B lymphocyte. In a healthy individual, the total kappa-to-lambda ratio is roughly 2:1 in serum (measuring intact whole antibodies) or 1:1.5 if measuring free light chains, with a highly divergent ratio indicative of neoplasm. The free light chain ratio ranges from 0.26 to 1.65. [1]
Abnormal free light chain production has also been reported to be prognostic of a worse outcome in multiple myeloma [36] [37] [38] and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. [39] An abnormal light-chain ratio has been defined as a kappa to lambda chain ratio of less than 0.26 or more than 1.65. [32]
Multiple myeloma (MM), also known as plasma cell myeloma and simply myeloma, is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that normally produces antibodies. [6] Often, no symptoms are noticed initially. [10] As it progresses, bone pain, anemia, renal insufficiency, and infections may occur. [10]
Bence Jones proteins are present in 2/3 of multiple myeloma cases. [3] The proteins are immunoglobulin light chains (paraproteins) and are produced by neoplastic plasma cells. They can be kappa (most of the time) or lambda. [3] The light chains can be immunoglobulin fragments or single homogeneous immunoglobulins.
The remainder get solutions with anti-IgG, anti-IgA, anti-IgM, anti-kappa light chain and anti-lambda light chain immunoglobulin, respectively from left to right. Each anti-immunoglobulin solution is artificially colored to ensure that the solution matches the color map at top. Immunofixation electrophoresis, schematic representation:
Light chain multiple myeloma is diagnosed in patients who have: a) the criteria for diagnosis of multiple myeloma except having a serum free light chain ratio outside the normal range of 0.26 to 1.65 without evidence of an intact immunoglobulin or free heavy chain; or b) an extreme free light chain ratio, i.e. outside the range of 0.02 to 100 ...
It is important in quantification of free light chains in diseases such as multiple myeloma. Quantification is important for disease classification and for disease monitoring once a patient has been treated (increased skewing of the ratio between kappa and lambda light chains after a patient has been treated is an indication of disease recurrence).
Serum protein electrophoresis showing a paraprotein (spike/peak in the gamma zone) in a patient with multiple myeloma.. A myeloma protein is an abnormal antibody (immunoglobulin) or (more often) a fragment thereof, such as an immunoglobulin light chain, that is produced in excess by an abnormal monoclonal proliferation of plasma cells, typically in multiple myeloma or Monoclonal gammopathy of ...