Pathogenicity of Monoclonal Immunoglobulin Light Chains

Wednesday, July 29
6 – 7:30 p.m.
Hilton Anaheim, California A
Presented by Helena Laboratories Corporation

Overview

Monoclonal light chains arise from malignant plasma cells along with intact monoclonal immunoglobulins in usual multiple myeloma. Multiple myeloma lesions may produce light chains only. In both types of myelomas, higher levels of free monoclonal immunoglobulins are associated with renal damage and a worse prognosis reflected by two-year shorter servival. In intact immunoglobulin myelomas, light chain predominant myelomas are diagnosed when the level of monoclonal light chains per gram of intact immunoglobulin are higher than 67.0 mg of light chain per gram of monoclonal immunoglobulins for kappa chain associated lesions. The corresponding figure for lambda chain associated myelomas is 43.5.

Outcome

1. Understand the diagnostic criteria for light chain predominant multiple myeloma.

2. Understand the differences in the levels of light chains and specific diagnostic criteria for kappa and lambda light chain associated lesions.

3. Appreciate the pathogenicity of monoclonal light chains being a dominant cause of renal failure and shorter survival.

Moderator

Robert S Galen, MD, MPH
Professor Emeritus Epidemiology & Biostatistics

University of Georgia - College of Public Health

Speaker

Gurmukh Singh, MD, PhD

Professor Emeritus

Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University