Both clonal plasma cell and myeloid disorders occur more frequently with age. Patients with concurrent clonal plasma cell and myeloid disorders (CPCMD) can present clinical and therapeutic challenges. In this single-institution cohort of patients with CPCMD (n = 18), we abstracted clinically relevant themes. A majority of patients (12/18) were treated with clone-directed therapies and three received treatment targeting both clones. Treatment of clones with targetable genetic lesions or those causing end-organ complications should be prioritized. Simultaneous treatment of both clones can be safe but is best done in a stepwise manner. Further study of patients with dual clonal processes is warranted.

IgG4-related diseases (IgG-RDs) are a group of fibroinflammatory diseases that affect a variety of tissues, resulting in tumour-like effects and/or organ dysfunction. Monoclonal gammopathies (MGPs) are a group of disorders characterized by clonal proliferation of plasma cells or lymphoid cells resulting in the secretion of a monoclonal immunoglobulin. Cases of MGPs in IgG4-RDs coexisting with plasma cell dyscrasias and lymphoid neoplasms have been reported over the past few years. Therefore, the results of examinations of M protein in IgG4-RD patients should be interpreted with caution. Herein, we report the case of a 58-year-old male with a history of type 2 diabetes who presented with submandibular masses, anosmia, swollen lymph nodes, proteinuria, and renal impairment. Laboratory tests revealed hyperglobulinemia and elevated levels of IgG4 (124 g/L) and serum-free light chains (sFLCs). Serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) revealed an M spike of 5.6 g/dL, and immunofixation electrophoresis (IPE) revealed biclonal IgG-κ and IgG-λ. The patient underwent bone marrow, lymph node, and kidney biopsy, which ruled out plasma cell disorders and lymphoma. He was finally diagnosed with an IgG4-RD comorbid with diabetic nephropathy. The findings in this case highlight that significant activation of B cells in IgG4-RD patients, especially those with multiorgan involvement can lead to significant hyperglobulinemia and high sFLC and IgG4 levels, which are more pronounced in the setting of renal impairment. Relatively high concentrations of polyclonal IgG4 can give rise to a focal band bridging the β and γ fractions, which may mimic the appearance of a monoclonal band on SPEP and monoclonal gammaglobulinemia in IFE. The patient experienced considerable improvement in his symptoms after rituximab combined with glucocorticoid therapy, and a monoclonal immunoglobulin was not detected.

暂无摘要。

Multiple myeloma and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance are plasma cell dyscrasias characterized by monoclonal proliferation of pathological plasma cells with uncontrolled production of immunoglobulins. Autoimmune pathologies are conditions in which T and B lymphocytes develop a tendency to activate towards self-antigens in the absence of exogenous triggers. The aim of our review is to show the possible correlations between the two pathological aspects. Molecular studies have shown how different cytokines that either cause inflammation or control the immune system play a part in the growth of immunotolerance conditions that make it easier for the development of neoplastic malignancies. Uncontrolled immune activation resulting in chronic inflammation is also known to be at the basis of the evolution toward neoplastic pathologies, as well as multiple myeloma. Another point is the impact that myeloma-specific therapies have on the course of concomitant autoimmune diseases. Indeed, cases have been observed of patients suffering from multiple myeloma treated with daratumumab and bortezomib who also benefited from their autoimmune condition or patients under treatment with immunomodulators in which there has been an arising or worsening of autoimmunity conditions. The role of bone marrow transplantation in the course of concomitant autoimmune diseases remains under analysis.

The humoral and cellular response to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA full vaccination and booster dose as well as the impact of the spike variants, including Omicron, are still unclear in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and those with pre-malignant monoclonal gammopathies. In this study, involving 40 patients, we found that MM patients with relapsed-refractory disease (MMR) had reduced spike-specific antibody levels and neutralizing titers after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. The five analyzed variants, remarkably Omicron, had a significant negative impact on the neutralizing ability of the vaccine-induced antibodies in all patients with MM and smoldering MM. Moreover, lower spike-specific IL-2-producing CD4+ T cells and reduced cytotoxic spike-specific IFN-γ and TNF-α-producing CD8+ T cells were found in MM patients as compared to patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. We found that a heterologous booster immunization improved SARS-CoV-2 spike humoral and cellular responses in newly diagnosed MM (MMD) patients and in most, but not all, MMR patients. After the booster dose, a significant increase of the neutralizing antibody titers against almost all the analyzed variants was achieved in MMD. However, in MMR patients, Omicron retained a negative impact on neutralizing ability, suggesting further approaches to potentiating the effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in these patients.

Data regarding the prevalence of paraproteinemia in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) are lacking.
To evaluate for the prevalence of paraproteinemia, we undertook this cross-sectional study among consecutive chronic-phase CML patients. Complete blood count, chemistry, immunoglobulins, serum-free light chains, serum-protein electrophoresis and immunofixation were collected. Further analyses evaluated whether various patient-, disease-, and treatment-related variables are associated with paraproteinemia.
One hundred patients, median age 63.5 (IQR 48.1-72) years were recruited. Median time from CML diagnosis to enrollment was 6.3 (IQR 2.3-11.3) years. Monoclonal protein was detected in 8 patients (8%), diagnosed with smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM, n = 2) and low-risk monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS, n = 6). Six patients were on tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment, 2 were in treatment-free remission. The only covariate associated with paraproteinemia was the presence of anemia, albeit with borderline statistical significance in univariate analysis (p = 0.053) and when adjusted for age (p = 0.056).
In this largest study so far describing the prevalence of paraproteinemia among CML patients, we found MGUS prevalence to be higher than the 3.2% expected prevalence in the general population above 50 years and a non-negligible prevalence of SMM (2%). Screening for paraproteinemia in CML patients, especially in the presence of anemia, should be considered.

\"Cast nephropathy\" (CN) is a pathological feature of myeloma kidney, also seen to a lesser extent in the context of severe nephrotic syndrome from non-haematological diseases. The name relates to obstruction of distal tubules by \"casts\" of luminal proteins concentrated by intensive water reabsorption resulting from dehydration or high-dose diuretics. Filtered proteins form complexes with endogenous tubular Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein. The resulting gel further slows or stops luminal flow upon complete obstruction of distal convoluted tubules and collecting ducts. Thus, a tubular obstructive form of acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common consequence of CN. The pathogenesis of CN will be reviewed in light of recent advances in the understanding of monoclonal disorders of B lymphocytes, leading to the release of immunoglobulin components (free light chains, FLC) into the bloodstream and their filtration across the glomerular basement membrane. Treatment aiming at reduction of the circulating burden of FLC may help recovery of renal function in a fraction of these patients, besides filling the void between the onset of AKI, histopathological diagnosis, and full response to pharmacologic treatment.

UNASSIGNED: given the lack of information about monoclonal gammopathies, our primary study outcome was to describe the epidemiological, clinical and biochemical profiles of monoclonal gammopathies in the Souss-Massa region, in southern Morocco.
UNASSIGNED: we conducted a retrospective study, by selecting only complete medical records. We used records of patients diagnosed with monoclonal gammopathy at the local oncology center during a period of over 10 years.
UNASSIGNED: one hundred and seventeen patients were included in the study, with a high male predominance (65%) and a male/female sex-ratio of 1.85. The average age of our study population was 61.44 (ET 14.54) years. Diagnoses (based on frequency) included: multiple myeloma 82.0% (n=96), solitary plasmacytoma 8.5% (n=10), monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance 2.6% (n=3), lymphoma 2.5% (n=3), secondary plasma cell leukaemia 1.7% (n=2), Waldenström´s disease 1.7%(n=2) and chronic lymphoid leukemia (n=1). The isotype distribution was as follows: IgG Kappa 33.7% (n=28), IgG lambda 21.7% (n=18), IgA Kappa 12.0% (n=10), IgA lambda 7.2% (n=6), IgM kappa 3.6% (n=3), and IgD lambda 2.4% (n=2). Biconal peak was reached in two cases, with a percentage of 2.4%.
UNASSIGNED: diagnostic delay was observed compared to international studies due to the unavailability of electrophoresis in the care structures.

OBJECTIVE: M-protein quantification by peak integration in serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) plays a central role in diagnosing, prognosing and monitoring monoclonal gammopathies. The conventional perpendicular drop (PD) integration approach integrates M-spikes from the baseline, which performs acceptably when the M-protein concentration is relatively high compared to the amount of background proteins present. The alternative peak-integration protocol by tangential skim (TS), however, allows for more accurate M-protein estimations by excluding background proteins. Despite some guideline recommendations, TS has been poorly adopted, making an understanding of the differences between the two protocols and their potential impacts paramount when considering a change from PD to TS.
METHODS: We conducted retrospective investigations of the differences in M-protein quantification over large concentration ranges between PD and TS on 3 of the most popular electrophoresis platforms.
RESULTS: Compared to PD, TS gave consistently lower results; the differences between the two methods increased tremendously and became more sporadic as M-protein concentrations dropped below 15 g/L in all 3 platforms. At < 15 g/L, the average % difference ranged from -81 % to -95 %, while above 15 g/L, the average % difference was only -13 to -31 %. Medical decision point analyses using linear regression predicted statistically significant and platform-dependent differences, which could impact clinical interpretation.
CONCLUSIONS: Careful consideration of the magnitude of concentration changes and the potential impacts on patient classification and management should be made when switching to TS for M-protein quantification.

Multiple myeloma (MM) remains an incurable plasma cell malignancy. While its origin is enigmatic, an association with infectious pathogens including hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been suggested. Here we report nine patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) or MM with previous HCV infection, six of whom received antiviral treatment. We studied the evolution of the gammopathy disease, according to anti-HCV treatment and antigen specificity of purified monoclonal immunoglobulin, determined using the INNO-LIA™ HCV Score assay, dot-blot assays, and a multiplex infectious antigen microarray. The monoclonal immunoglobulin from 6/9 patients reacted against HCV. Four of these patients received antiviral treatment and had a better evolution than untreated patients. Following antiviral treatment, one patient with MM in third relapse achieved complete remission with minimal residual disease negativity. For two patients who did not receive antiviral treatment, disease progressed. For the two patients whose monoclonal immunoglobulin did not react against HCV, antiviral treatment was not effective for MGUS or MM disease. Our results suggest a causal relationship between HCV infection and MGUS and MM progression. When HCV was eliminated, chronic antigen-stimulation disappeared, allowing control of clonal plasma cells. This opens new possibilities of treatment for MGUS and myeloma.