Kappa Light Chain Myeloma

Light chain myeloma typically is much more aggressive than the typical form.

Kappa light chain myeloma.

Sometimes these deposits give rise to a substance called amyloid resulting in a disease called amyloidosis which consists of the deposit of this amorphous substance. They only produce part of the immunoglobulin called the light chain. There are two types of light chains called kappa and lambda. There is research showing that lambda myeloma may be higher risk than kappa myeloma.

The light chains can show up in the urine. In igg kappa myeloma the myeloma cells produce an immunoglobulin made from two igg heavy chains bound to two kappa light chains. Their risk of amyloidosis and leukemia is also higher as they progress farther into the. The most common type of myeloma is igg kappa.

When the body detects an infection these white blood cells transform into plasma cells which create proteins called immunoglobulins also known as antibodies. There are 2 types of light chains called kappa and lambda. In this patient power segment host dr. Leclair is a patient power host and retired.

High levels of igm suggest you may have waldenstrom s macroglobulinemia. Leclair provides a thorough scientific breakdown of light chains and the way they work. In myeloma patients these numbers are typically. 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.

These immunoglobulins are made up of only one type of heavy chain g a d e or m and one type of light chain kappa or lambda. Healthy blood cells produce antibodies that help to fight infection. In the clip dr. Each of these immunoglobulins have a light chain like kappa or lambda and a heavy chain like igg iga igm etc.

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. 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. 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. Generally myeloma specialists do not treat patients differently based on their heavy or light chain myeloma type.

Of light chains or bence jones myeloma are most likely to cause damage to the kidney and deposit components of light chain in the kidneys nervous system or other organs. About 20 out of 100 people with myeloma 20 do not produce complete immunoglobulins. Patients face a more rapid doubling time for the disease and they have a greater tendency to develop bone lesions or osteolyticlesions they also tend to have an increased prevalence of hypercalcemia or calcium in the blood. Myeloma cells make immunoglobulins.