I just received a kappa blood test and it's high at 1820.
Can someone please tell me if this is bad?
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Re: High serum kappa free light chain level - meaning?
Hi Questions.
Yes, 1820 mg/L is out of the normal range for kappa free light chains. Normal is 3.3-19.4 mg/L. Some labs give results in mg/dL - normal is then 0.33-1.94 mg/dL.
Do you have an appointment with an oncologist or hematologist / oncologist to discuss your results?
Yes, 1820 mg/L is out of the normal range for kappa free light chains. Normal is 3.3-19.4 mg/L. Some labs give results in mg/dL - normal is then 0.33-1.94 mg/dL.
Do you have an appointment with an oncologist or hematologist / oncologist to discuss your results?
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antelope1225 - Name: Cathy1225
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 25 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: High serum kappa free light chain level - meaning?
My doctor just put in an urgent call to a hematologist. Should I be worried?
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questions
Re: High serum kappa free light chain level - meaning?
Hi questions,
I'd say that you're in a glass-half-full, glass-half-empty situation.
As Cathy already suggested in her answer, your kappa light chains were really high, regardless of what units they were reported in (always include units when you post lab results here). So it's clear that something not-so-healthy is going on in your body. That's the glass-half-empty side of the story, and I don't want to understate it, because the possibilities of what could be happening include serious illnesses such as multiple myeloma and amyloidosis.
The glass-half-full side of the story is that your doctor is doing something about it, and your doctor and you will figure out exactly what it is you have and how to treat it. If this test had not been done, or if your doctor hadn't done anything, your health could have declined to the point where it might have been difficult to treat whatever it is that you have.
What you have is probably a plasma cell disorder, or plasma cell dyscrasia (in more technical terms). Before you know more, Wikipedia is probably a good place to start learning a bit more about the possibilities:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_cell_dyscrasia
Did you have any other blood testing done, such as your hemoglobin levels, calcium levels, creatinine levels, a urine protein electrophoresis (UPEP), or serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP). Also, did you have any x-rays, MRIs, CT scans, or the like done?
If you share with us some of the results of those tests, we may be able to help you get a better sense of what might be going on.
Good luck!
I'd say that you're in a glass-half-full, glass-half-empty situation.
As Cathy already suggested in her answer, your kappa light chains were really high, regardless of what units they were reported in (always include units when you post lab results here). So it's clear that something not-so-healthy is going on in your body. That's the glass-half-empty side of the story, and I don't want to understate it, because the possibilities of what could be happening include serious illnesses such as multiple myeloma and amyloidosis.
The glass-half-full side of the story is that your doctor is doing something about it, and your doctor and you will figure out exactly what it is you have and how to treat it. If this test had not been done, or if your doctor hadn't done anything, your health could have declined to the point where it might have been difficult to treat whatever it is that you have.
What you have is probably a plasma cell disorder, or plasma cell dyscrasia (in more technical terms). Before you know more, Wikipedia is probably a good place to start learning a bit more about the possibilities:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_cell_dyscrasia
Did you have any other blood testing done, such as your hemoglobin levels, calcium levels, creatinine levels, a urine protein electrophoresis (UPEP), or serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP). Also, did you have any x-rays, MRIs, CT scans, or the like done?
If you share with us some of the results of those tests, we may be able to help you get a better sense of what might be going on.
Good luck!
Re: High serum kappa free light chain level - meaning?
Hello,
Thank you so much for responding so fast. I was very worried and wrote those last 2 posts on my phone.
I have not gotten the hemoglobin results back yet. I'm guessing I will be getting the calcium and urine sample test next.
I have been pretty sick and have only been feeling worse. I was seeing my neurologist because I get numb hands and feet and horrible migraines. I 'm extremely tired and drained every day. I've been feeling really sick and way worse. I have been going through all this for years and I finally got a doctor who has been pushing for test. My Electrophoresis $ IF, Protein w tracing says:
Albumin 4.8 g/dl High
Total Protein 8.2 High
Kappa 1820 mg/dl High
Thank you again,
Questions
Thank you so much for responding so fast. I was very worried and wrote those last 2 posts on my phone.
I have not gotten the hemoglobin results back yet. I'm guessing I will be getting the calcium and urine sample test next.
I have been pretty sick and have only been feeling worse. I was seeing my neurologist because I get numb hands and feet and horrible migraines. I 'm extremely tired and drained every day. I've been feeling really sick and way worse. I have been going through all this for years and I finally got a doctor who has been pushing for test. My Electrophoresis $ IF, Protein w tracing says:
Albumin 4.8 g/dl High
Total Protein 8.2 High
Kappa 1820 mg/dl High
Thank you again,
Questions
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Questions
Re: High serum kappa free light chain level - meaning?
For this lab result, I suspect that this is coming from the quantitative portion of the immunoglobulin testing as opposed to the "free kappa" light chain. Generally, if the albumin and total protein are listed on that test, it is not the free kappa. A level of 1820 mg/dL is abnormal and needs evaluation. But it is not as dramatically abnormal as would be the case if this were the free kappa light chain quantification.
This may not make much sense yet, but something to discuss with your hematologist.
This may not make much sense yet, but something to discuss with your hematologist.
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Dr. Jason Valent - Name: Jason Valent, M.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
6 posts
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