title: Kappa/lambda ratio on peripheral blood lymphocytes and bone marrow plasma cell labeling index in monoclonal gammopathies.
abstract: Bone marrow plasma cell labeling index (L.I.), kappa/lambda ratio, CD4+ and CD8+ subpopulations were studied in patients with smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM), active myeloma (MM) and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). The loss of the light chain isotype suppression (LCIS) and a high labeling index (L.I.) allowed us to distinguish all MM patients from SMM patients. On the contrary, a low L.I. and a normal kappa/lambda ratio were found in most kappa and lambda MGUS. A significant difference in the kappa/lambda ratio was noted between MGUS and K-SMM. A significant decrease in CD4+ and a significant increase in CD8+ were not observed in patients with LCIS. The kappa/lambda ratio together with the plasma cell L.I. could be useful parameters for distinguishing active MM from SMM, especially in the cases with a border line L.I.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Oncologia, Ospedale Generale Provinciale, Ivrea, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Büchi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Girotto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Veglio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clerico
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gario
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Termine
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Autino
mesh_terms: D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / Q000378:metabolism*; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains / Q000378:metabolism*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000276:immunology*; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains