Serum free light chain analysis.
In a variety of hematologic malignancies, immunoglobulin light chains (LC) are overproduced clonally and circulate without being linked by disulphide bonds to the immunoglobulin heavy chain. The recent development of a robust assay known as κ and λ "free" LC (FLC) to quantify the levels of these unbound LC in the serum, and thereby determine their ratio, has led to an explosion of studies that demonstrate its utility in a wide range of hematologic disorders. This article summarizes laboratory testing for serum FLC, with a particular focus on clinical applications for the test.
Davids
Matthew S
MS
Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Murali
Mandakolathur R
MR
Kuter
David J
DJ
D000465:Algorithms; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000097:blood; D001536:Bence Jones Protein / Q000652:urine; D001797:Blood Protein Electrophoresis; D003720:Densitometry; D006207:Half-Life; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D009194:Myeloma Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry / Q000379:methods*; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine; D011485:Protein Binding; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D044967:Serum
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains; D007146:Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains; D009194:Myeloma Proteins; D001536:Bence Jones Protein