Kappa Free Light Chain Myeloma

In this patient power segment host dr.

Kappa free light chain myeloma. Susan leclair discusses what kappa light chains are and answers what an increase in kappa light chain numbers might mean for a patient with myeloma. Kappa light chain multiple myeloma treatment multiple myeloma is a rare form of cancer that begins in the bone marrow when abnormal plasma cells accumulate and crowd out healthy blood cells. The serum free light assay is much more sensitive than the regular electrophoresis to detect light chain myeloma how free light tests help monitor myeloma therapy. There is research showing that lambda myeloma may be higher risk than kappa myeloma.

Ninety seven patients with light chain disease lcd were studied. Leclair is a patient power host and retired. Healthy blood cells produce antibodies that help to fight infection. 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.

The kappa and lambda light. Leclair provides a thorough scientific breakdown of light chains and the way they work. There are 2 types of light chains called kappa and lambda. Generally myeloma specialists do not treat patients differently based on their heavy or light chain myeloma type.

Each of these immunoglobulins have a light chain like kappa or lambda and a heavy chain like igg iga igm etc. The most common type of myeloma is igg kappa. This last diagnostic criterion a serum free light chain ratio of 100 or more can be used to specifically diagnose light chain multiple myeloma. In people with light chain multiple myeloma there.

Myeloma cells make immunoglobulins. 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. A blood test called the serum free light chain assay detects excess light chains in the blood. They only produce part of the immunoglobulin called the light chain.

About 20 out of 100 people with myeloma 20 do not produce complete immunoglobulins. In igg kappa myeloma the myeloma cells produce an immunoglobulin made from two igg heavy chains bound to two kappa light chains. In the clip dr. 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 20 of patients affected by myeloma cells produce only light chains and never get to produce heavy chains. These isolated light chains are detectable in the urine and not so much in the blood. The light chains can show up in the urine. A lower proportion of kappa lcd patients 15 7 than lambda lcd patients 42 2 died within.

Light chain myeloma sometimes called bence jones myeloma.