Kappa Free Light Chain Multiple Myeloma

Leclair is a patient power host and retired.

Kappa free light chain multiple myeloma.

The light chains can show up in the urine. There are 2 types of light chains called kappa and lambda. Leclair provides a thorough scientific breakdown of light chains and the way they work. Learn more about the use of this blood test and how it is used in multiple myeloma therapy.

In this patient power segment host dr. This means type g immunoglobulin one of the possible types of heavy chain one combination of types of light chain kappa or lambda. Kappa light chain multiple myeloma treatment multiple myeloma is a rare form of cancer that begins in the bone marrow when abnormal plasma cells accumulate and crowd out healthy blood cells. The serum free light chain test can be used to determine light chain levels of disease so patients will want to track their light chain numbers.

The five types of heavy protein chains are g a d e and m. About 20 out of 100 people with myeloma 20 do not produce complete immunoglobulins. Ninety seven patients with light chain disease lcd were studied. Susan leclair discusses what kappa light chains are and answers what an increase in kappa light chain numbers might mean for a patient with myeloma.

Light chain multiple myeloma is a type of multiple myeloma a cancer of the plasma cells multiple myeloma begins in the bone marrow where white blood cells are formed. Learn more about kappa and lambda light chains and multiple myeloma. The second most common type is the iga myeloma also in combination with any of the two light chains. Each of these immunoglobulins have a light chain like kappa or lambda and a heavy chain like igg iga igm etc.

Each immunoglobulin is made up of two heavy chains and two light chains. When the body detects an infection these white blood cells transform into plasma cells which create proteins called immunoglobulins also known as antibodies. Light chain myeloma sometimes called bence jones myeloma. In the clip dr.

Igm ige and igd types have one much lower incidence. Healthy blood cells produce antibodies that help to fight infection. Multiple myeloma has different types and subtypes. Additional genetic testing of a patient s myeloma cells can be done to determine risk based on common genetic myeloma features.

These types are based on the immunoglobulin protein produced by the myeloma cell. 65 of patients with myeloma have an igg type. A lower proportion of kappa lcd patients 15 7 than lambda lcd patients 42 2 died within. The various immunoglobulins have different functions in the body.

The median survival from diagnosis was 30 mo for 52 patients with kappa lcd and 10 mo for 45 patients with lambda lcd p less than 0 0007. One of the key markers that myeloma doctors pay attention to are 1 the involved light chain for your type of myeloma kappa or lambda and 2 the kappa lambda light chain ratio.