The Myeloma Beacon

Independent, up-to-date news and information for the multiple myeloma community.
Home page Deutsche Artikel Artículos Españoles

Forums

General questions and discussion about multiple myeloma (i.e., symptoms, lab results, news, etc.) If unsure where to post, use this discussion area.

Hypogammaglobulinemia after stem cell transplant

by ScottM on Mon Dec 03, 2012 3:36 pm

Approximately eight months after a stem cell transplant for treatment of Ig(D) multiple myeloma (lambda), my kappa and lambda serum free light chain values, as well as the K/L ratio, remains quite low. Kappa values < 0.02 mg/dl, lambda values ~ 0.3 mg/l and a ratio < 0.1. The serum Ig(D), A, M and G values are also well below normal. Could anyone provide me information of what I may expect regarding the serum free light chain concentrations in the future? At some point will they increase closer to a normal range and remain for awhile? What time frame would be involved?

Thanks for any help.

ScottM
Name: Scott
Who do you know with myeloma?: me
When were you/they diagnosed?: October 2011

Re: Hypogammaglobulinemia after stem cell transplant

by Dr. Adam Cohen on Wed Dec 05, 2012 12:07 am

The immune suppression that occurs after high dose therapy and a stem cell transplant is profound and can often last up to a year or more. Assuming your disease in in remission however, I would expect that your normal B cells and plasma cells should be recovering over the next few months, such that your free light chains and immunoglobulins should start increasing toward the normal range by a year post-stem cell transplant, though they may continue to remain somewhat subnormal for several months thereafter. One year post-stem cell transplant is when we usually start re-introducing childhood and other immunizations.

Hope this helps!

Dr. Adam Cohen
Name: Adam D. Cohen, M.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor


Return to Multiple Myeloma