暂无摘要。

IgE multiple myeloma is a rare subtype of myeloma, accounting for <0.1% of all myeloma cases. Difficulties in diagnosing and monitoring this rare myeloma type are recognized, including the need of heightened awareness for initial diagnosis, performing a reflex immunofixation test using an anti-IgE antisera, and recognizing the possibility of the prozone phenomenon. Here, we report a rare case of IgE multiple myeloma with the prozone phenomenon. This case was characterized by a paradoxical increase in IgE levels with a progressive increase in the dilution factor. Moreover, serial monitoring of IgE levels correlated with the trend in the serum free light chain ratio, especially when the monoclonal protein was no longer detectable. This case highlights the need for laboratory professionals to be vigilant about the occurrence of the prozone phenomenon in IgE multiple myeloma.

BACKGROUND: Based on risk factors, the Mayo Clinic Multiple Myeloma Group (MCMMG) established a model of progression from monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) to multiple myeloma (MM) at 20 years. It is also described that MGUS with a progressive increase of monoclonal protein (M-protein) and/or immunoparesis (IMP) may be more predisposed to progress to myeloma. Our objective was to make a review of MGUS, to see how those who presented IMP and/or progression of their M-protein, contrasting them with MGUS that presented intermediate/high and high risk according to MCMMG.
UNASSIGNED: A review of the MGUS objectified during the realization of a serum proteinogram (SPEP) was carried out during 2010-2014, in our area. Serum immunoglobulins, serum immunofixation (IFs), and serum free light chain ratio (FLCr) were determined for all MGUS.
RESULTS: Of the 153 MGUS that are followed up for 4 years, 6 progress to MM. Of these 6 MM, 5 progress from MGUS with intermediate/high risk taking into account the MCMMG. Of these 5, 3 have IMP or progression of their M-protein. 2 present IMP plus progression of their M-protein. The sixth MM evolves from a MGUS without any risk factor, but with progression of its M-protein plus IMP.
CONCLUSIONS: IMP and/or M-protein progression are important risk factors to be taken into account in the MGUS, in the first years after diagnosis, due to their possible evolution to MM.

OBJECTIVE: Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of multiple myeloma (MM), place increasing demands on accurate stratification of patients as the starting point for optimal individualized therapy. The present study focused on assessing the association between HLC levels and the HLC-r to parameters of MM activity, prognosis and tumor mass volume.The objective was to assess the correlation of immunoglobulin (Ig), heavy/light chain (HLC) pairs (IgG-κ and-λ, IgA-κ and -λ HLC) and the ratio of monoclonal involved-HLC (i-HLC) to polyclonal uninvolved (u-HLC) Ig concentrations assessed by the Hevylite(TM) method with the free light chain κ/λ ratio (FLC-r), selected prognostic laboratory parameters i.e. Hb, platelets, albumin, β2-microglobulin (β2-M), Ca, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatinine and the Durie-Salmon (D-S) and International Staging System (ISS), stages (1-3) for MM.
METHODS: Hevylite assays were done on the sera of 132 MM patients at the time of diagnosis (IgG 94, IgA 38). HLC-r was calculated in the case of i-HLC-κ from the i-HLC-κ/u-HLC-λ ratio and for i-HLC-λ from the i-HLC-λ/u-HLC-κ ratio. D-S and ISS stages were evenly distributed.
RESULTS: Md IgG-κ HLC-r was 64.8 (2.7-2222) and of IgG-λ HLC-r 49.6 (0.7-465.1), in the case of IgA-κ, Md HLC-r was 408.9 (3.4-3966) and for IgA-λ HLC-r the Md was 180.0 (0.1-3110). Normal levels of HLC pairs and HLC-r did not always rule out the diagnosis of MM. HLC-r correlated with FLC-r in IgG (r = 0.244, P = 0.018), but not in the IgA type. For IgG, HLC-r values were significantly different in patients with abnormal vs normal levels of Hb (P < 0.0001), albumin (P < 0.043), β2-M (P < 0.0001) and creatinine (P = 0.034) but not thrombocyte count, Ca or LDH. For the IgA isotype, we found a significant difference in HLC-r values only for thrombocyte count (P = 0.026) and β2-M (P = 0.016) but not for Hb, albumin, Ca, LDH or creatinine. For the IgG isotype there was a significant relationship of HLC-r index to stages 1-3 (P = 0.038) and substage A vs B (P = 0.048) according to D-S, and with high significance to stages 1-3 according to ISS (P = 0.005) and between stages 1 vs 3 (P = 0.001). For the IgA isotype, we found significant differences in HLC-r only between stages 1-3 (P = 0.025) according to D-S but not in the case of ISS. There were no significant correlations between i-HLC Ig levels and D-S or ISS stages in both IgG-κ and λ and IgA-κ and λ. Exceptions were significant differences for stages 1 vs 3 (P = 0.012) and 2 vs 3 (P = 0.017) for the IgG-λ isotype. There were no correlations of the HLC-r and u-HLC levels for either D-S or ISS stratifications in all HLC isotypes.
CONCLUSIONS: We found a significant positive contribution of HLC-r using the i-HLC/u-HLC ratio even in the case of i-HLC-λ i.e. i-HLC-λ/u-HLC-κ. Variable results for the relationship of important laboratory parameters and D-S and ISS stratifications (stage 1-3) to HLC-r values in IgG and IgA isotypes make separate interpretation of the Hevylite method results necessary in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the characteristics of unexpected protein bands (UPBs) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM).
METHODS: Individuals diagnosed with MM (n=193) were enrolled. Their medical records and IFE patterns were reviewed.
RESULTS: Of the patients that underwent ASCT, 54% developed UPBs. The median time for UPB appearance and duration was 1.8 and 5.7months, respectively. IFE revealed 74.1% of UPBs to be of the immunoglobulin G type and 72.2% to be of the κ-type. At UPB appearance, 42.6% of patients were defined as sCR or CR, and 50.0% of the patients satisfying the CR criteria had an abnormal FLC ratio. Of the patients who developed UPBs, five relapsed. Among these, four patients showed disappearance of the previous IFE oligoclonality and reappearance of the original paraprotein at relapse.
CONCLUSIONS: Close follow-up of UPBs is critical for evaluating MM therapeutic response and disease progression. The presence of monoclonal bands may indicate relapse of disease, but in the vast majority of cases with UPBs, it does not; instead, it most likely represents a transient phenomenon caused by the immune response.