[Perseverance]

Light Chains relativity to Immunoglobin levels

by Perseverance on Sun Dec 11, 2011 1:41 am

I have been trying to connect the dots regarding the relation of IG numbers and light chain numbers. In my case, the IG numbers were extremely suppressed after transplant (effected IGA was 8, normal being 70-300, at one point. The effected kappa light chain was 4.9 at the time the IGA was 8. Now the IGA is 23 and Kappa is 6.1. Also IGG and IGM were suppressed and are now beginning to normalize. My question is this: Does the normalization (rise) in the immunoglobin levels result in an uptick of the light chain numbers?

[Dr. Edward Libby]

Re: Light Chains relativity to Immunoglobin levels

by Dr. Edward Libby on Mon Dec 12, 2011 1:37 pm

Hi Perseverence,
You have very low levels of light chain secretion. A rise or fall in the serum total IgG or IgA levels does not reflect what is going on with your free light chains. What you need to know is what the FLC are doing 90-100 days after your transplant. In addition, given that it is hard to determine the level of response when one has such a low level of secretion of light chains a bone marrow biopsy at 90-100 days may be useful to measure your response with confidence.
Best of luck and success in your battle with myeloma !

[Perseverance]

Re: Light Chains relativity to Immunoglobin levels

by Perseverance on Mon Dec 12, 2011 8:36 pm

Dr. Libby,
The transplant was undergone over a year ago. Does that change your answer in terms of what is going on with the numbers?