title: Evaluation of the serum-free light chain test in untreated patients with AL amyloidosis.
abstract: We evaluated the Serum Free Light Chain (FLC) test in a series of 133 untreated patients with systemic AL amyloidosis. The FLC test detected the monoclonal gammopathy in 87% compared with 92% for immunofixation of serum and urine in combination. However, both tests proved complementary. The FLC test was also a valuable tool in patients with advanced renal failure in spite of uninvolved light chain retention. Higher FLC levels were associated with higher bone marrow plasmocytosis, poorer Karnofsky index and heart involvement, and therefore reflected disease severity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine Division of Hematology/Oncology, Amyloidosis Clinic, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Tilmann
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bochtler
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hegenbart
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heiss
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benner
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cremer
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Volkmann
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ludwig
authors.forename: Jolanta B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Perz
authors.forename: Anthony D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Hartmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goldschmidt
authors.forename: Stefan O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Schonland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000682:Amyloid / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000652:urine; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000652:urine; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000652:urine; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000682:Amyloid; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains