Multiple Myeloma Kappa Light Chain

The various immunoglobulins have different functions in the body.

Multiple myeloma kappa light chain.

Light chain myeloma also known as light. Healthy blood cells produce antibodies that help to fight infection. Light chain myeloma sometimes called bence jones myeloma. There are 2 types of light chains called kappa and lambda.

There are different stages and varieties of this incurable form of cancer and each one produces different symptoms and levels of risk to the patients well being and life. 65 of patients with myeloma have an igg type. The two types of light protein chains are kappa κ and. Multiple myeloma is a form of cancer that afflicts human bone marrow and blood cells.

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. The light chains can show up in the urine. Igm ige and igd types have one much lower incidence. 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.

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. Bottom line in myeloma therapy in patients with multiple myeloma the free light chain assay is important in predicting response to therapy and for predicting early signs of. They only produce part of the immunoglobulin called the light chain. 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. The five types of heavy protein chains are g a d e and m. Multiple myeloma has different types and subtypes. The second most common type is the iga myeloma also in combination with any of the two light chains.

But myeloma cells can cause fatigue easy bleeding and lowered resistance to infections. This means type g immunoglobulin one of the possible types of heavy chain one combination of types of light chain kappa or lambda. Additional genetic testing of a patient s myeloma cells can be done to determine risk based on common genetic myeloma features. Learn more about kappa and lambda light chains and multiple myeloma.