Free Lambda Light Chain Multiple Myeloma

There are 2 types of light chains called kappa and lambda.

Free lambda light chain multiple myeloma.

Ninety seven patients with light chain disease lcd were studied. About 20 out of 100 people with myeloma 20 do not produce complete immunoglobulins. If you have been diagnosed with multiple myeloma a blood test called a serum free light chain assay freelite played an important role in your diagnosis and will continue to be important in. Light chain multiple myeloma is a type of multiple myeloma a cancer of the plasma cells.

There is research showing that lambda myeloma may be higher risk than kappa myeloma. The serum free light chain test can be used to determine light chain levels of disease so patients will want to track their light chain numbers. The median survival from diagnosis was 30 mo for 52 patients with kappa lcd and 10 mo for 45 patients with lambda lcd p less than 0 0007. Multiple myeloma may be indicated by increased kappa free light chains and an increased kappa lambda ratio.

The most common type of myeloma is igg kappa. In this type of myeloma the myeloma cells secrete only light chain protein and no heavy chains. When the body detects an infection these white blood cells transform into plasma cells which create proteins called immunoglobulins also known as antibodies. These immunoglobulins are made up of only one type of heavy chain g a d e or m and one type of light chain kappa or lambda.

In a study with 493 british patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma the sflc was evaluated for 17 of these patients and concluded that the sflc number was more indicative of response to therapy than was the involved immunoglobulin number such as levels of igg iga etc. Generally myeloma specialists do not treat patients differently based on their heavy or light chain myeloma type. About 15 of patients have light chain myeloma. Light chain myeloma sometimes called bence jones myeloma.

Myeloma cells make immunoglobulins. Multiple myeloma begins in the bone marrow where white blood cells are formed. This type of myeloma is usually more severe than the classic kind. 0 57 2 63 mg dl multiple myeloma may be indicated by increased lambda free light chains and a decreased kappa lambda ratio.

They only produce part of the immunoglobulin called the light chain. The light chains can show up in the urine. Light chain myeloma also known as light chain disease is a type of multiple myeloma in which the malignant bone marrow cells produce free monoclonal light chain proteins. Serum free lambda light chains14 30 normal range.