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Other guidelines for the use of serum free light chain measurement in the management of AL amyloidosis, [42] plasmacytoma [43] and the comparison of treatment responses in clinical trials [44] have also been published. Technical and clinical reviews of serum free light-chain measurement have recently been written by Pratt and Jagannath. [45] [46]
Serum protein electrophoresis or immunofixation is positive in 67-100% of cases, while urine protein electrophoresis or immunofixation is positive in 50-100% of cases. [2] Serum free light chain measurement is positive in 100% of cases, evidence that the underlying monoclonal plasma cells secrete free light chains as well as heavy chains.
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]
AL amyloidosis is caused by the deposition of abnormal antibody free light chains. The abnormal light chains are produced by monoclonal plasma cells, and, although AL amyloidosis can occur without diagnosis of another disorder, it is often associated with other plasma cell disorders, such as multiple myeloma and Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. [6]
Light chain deposition disease can affect any organ. [3] Renal involvement is always present and can be identified by microscopic hematuria and proteinuria.Due to the gradual buildup of light chains from plasma filtration, renal function rapidly declines in the majority of patients with LCDD as either acute tubulointerstitial nephritis or rapidly progressing glomerulonephritis.
Testing of serum and urine for monoclonal immunoglobulins and of serum for free light chains may help rule out immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis, while genetic testing may be used if hereditary amyloidosis is suspected. [20]
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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).