Detection of monoclonal plasma cells in the peripheral blood of patients with primary amyloidosis.
We evaluated the blood from 150 patients with primary AL-amyloidosis for circulating monoclonal plasma cells using a sensitive slide-based immunofluorescence technique. The percentage of monoclonal blood plasma cells (BPC) that were in S-phase was determined by the bromodeoxyuridine labelling index (BLI). Monoclonal BPC were detected in 16% (24/150) of patients. The median number of monoclonal BPC was 1 x 10(6)/l and 4.6% (7/150) of patients had a high number. The BLI was zero in all but three patients. This study demonstrates that monoclonal plasma cells circulate in the peripheral blood of patients with AL-amyloidosis.
McElroy
E A
EA
Division of Internal Medicine and Hematology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Witzig
T E
TE
Gertz
M A
MA
Greipp
P R
PR
Kyle
R A
RA
D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000097:blood*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D010950:Plasma Cells