title: Serum free light-chain measurements for identifying and monitoring patients with nonsecretory multiple myeloma.
abstract: Using sensitive, automated immunoassays, increased concentrations of either kappa or lambda free light chains (and abnormal kappa/lambda ratios) were detected in the sera of 19 of 28 patients with nonsecretory multiple myeloma. Four other patients had suppression of one or both light chains, and the remaining 5 sera had normal or raised free light-chain concentrations with substantially normal kappa/lambda ratios. Six of the patients with an elevated single free light chain, who were studied during follow-up, had changes in disease activity that were reflected by the changes in free light-chain concentrations. It is concluded that quantification of free light chains in serum should prove useful for the diagnosis and monitoring of many patients with nonsecretory myeloma.
authors: Department of Immunology, The Medical School, University of Birmingham, England.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Drayson
authors: L X
authors: LX
authors: Tang
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Drew
authors: G P
authors: GP
authors: Mead
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Carr-Smith
authors: A R
authors: AR
authors: Bradwell
mesh_terms: D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains / Q000097:blood*; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains