Elevated Kappa Light Chains Without Monoclonal Gammopathy

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance mgus is a condition in which an abnormal protein known as monoclonal protein or m protein is in your blood.

Elevated kappa light chains without monoclonal gammopathy. 1 the hallmark of mgus is the presence of a monoclonal immunoglobulin in the serum commonly referred to as a monoclonal m protein. This can be measured by the free light chain assay test on a blood specimen. In a minority of cases only light chains without heavy chains are produced. Light chain only monoclonal gammopathy are often barely visible in serum but may show as large amounts of monoclonal light chains excreted in the urine.

About 20 out of 100 people with myeloma 20 do not produce complete immunoglobulins. Mgus short for monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance is a condition that causes the body to create an abnormal protein. By definition patients with mgus have a serum m protein less than 30 g. Heavy chains and light chains.

Light chain mgus was defined later and is diagnosed upon fulfillment of certain criteria that are stated below. Light chain myeloma sometimes called bence jones myeloma. When myeloma progresses the myeloma cells start to produce more light chains than heavy chains. The presence of an abnormal free light chain flc ratio ie ratio of kappa to lambda free light chains 0 26 or 1 65.

They only produce part of the immunoglobulin called the light chain. Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance mgus is a premalignant plasma cell proliferative disorder found in approximately 3 of the general population 50 years of age and older. You have a minimal degree of change this may be wi. What else should i ask answered by dr.

A polyclonal gammopathy is characterized by a broad diffuse band with one or more heavy chains and kappa and lambda light chains 7. There are 2 types of light chains called kappa and lambda. This abnormal protein is formed within your bone marrow the soft blood producing tissue that fills in the center of most of your bones. This protein is called monoclonal protein or m protein.

She told me not to worry and we ll check again in 3 months. Hence the need to consider urine testing when clearly suspecting a monoclonal gammopathy. Told me my kappa light chain is elevated at 26. This is called a monoclonal protein also called m protein or m spike.

Antibodies are made up of two parts.