These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed


  • Title: Polyclonal free light chain of Ig may interfere with interpretation of monoclonal free light chain κ/λ ratio.
    Author: Levinson SS.
    Journal: Ann Clin Lab Sci; 2010; 40(4):348-53. PubMed ID: 20947809.
    Abstract:
    There is controversy about whether a sensitive assay for the serum Ig free light chain (FLC) κ/λ ratio can replace urine immunofixation electrophoresis (UIFE). This report describes two untreated patients in whom monoclonal FLCs were identified in urine despite normal serum FLC κ/λ ratios. Unlike the classical serum electrophoretic patterns in multiple myeloma, both serum samples showed adequate amounts of polyclonal Ig. The most likely explanation is a masking effect by polyclonal FLC on the serum κ/λ ratio when sufficient concentrations of polyclonal FLC exist. These cases illustrate this likely effect and attest to the continued importance of UIFE for initial screening of patients for Bence-Jones protein.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]