Multiple Myeloma Lambda Light Chain Type

However sometimes the body produces too many heavy chains which also causes multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma lambda light chain type.

The possible types of light chains are either kappa κ or lambda λ. These remain as free light chains and are released into the bloodstream. There are two types of light chains called kappa and lambda. High levels of igm suggest you may have waldenstrom s macroglobulinemia.

The light chains can show up in the urine. The most common type of myeloma is igg kappa. Igg iga igd ige and igm. About 20 out of 100 people with myeloma 20 do not produce complete immunoglobulins.

A lower proportion of kappa lcd patients 15 7 than lambda lcd patients 42 2 died within. Most people with multiple myeloma produce increased amounts of either kappa or lambda free light chains which can be measured in blood. They only produce part of the immunoglobulin called the light chain. Each of these immunoglobulins have a light chain like kappa or lambda and a heavy chain like igg iga igm etc.

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 addition light and or heavy chains the building blocks of antibodies may be secreted in isolation. Kappa and lambda are the only two subtypes of light chain multiple myeloma. 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.

Myeloma cells make immunoglobulins. Plasma cells come from the bone marrow and they produce antibodies also called immunoglobulins that fight wide variety of infections. Consequently the ratio of kappa to lambda light chains is abnormal and is a sensitive indicator for this disease. Light chain myeloma sometimes called bence jones myeloma.

κ or λ light chains or any of the five types of heavy chains α γ δ ε or μ heavy chains. The most common type of m protein in myeloma is igg. There are 2 types of light chains called kappa and lambda. 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.

Ninety seven patients with light chain disease lcd were studied. This represents about 3 of all people with multiple myeloma. There are five different types of these heavy chain proteins. One of the key markers that myeloma doctors pay attention to are 1 the involved light chain for your type of myeloma kappa or lambda and 2 the kappa lambda light chain ratio.

While doctors may choose not to treat smoldering myeloma if it progresses to multiple myeloma a patient will receive a treatment that may include chemotherapy radiation therapy and stem cell transplants.