I am new to this forum. I just got a lab report from Quest on blood work done because my doctor said my GFR was off.
Everything looks good, except the
Kappa / lambda light chains free with ratio, serum - 3.06
Lambda light chain, free, serum - 3.5.
I have no idea what this is. Can someone tell me if I have something to worry about?
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Re: Low lambda, high kappa-lambda ratio - meaning?
Seahorsefl,
I'm assuming that in addition to kappa and lambda free light chain test, your doctor ran a serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) and an immunofixation (IFE) test. Quest would likely call the tests "Protein, Total and Electrophoresis, Serum" and there would be something mentioned in the "Interpretation" section and/or a value listed under "Abnormal Protein Band 1, 2, or 3".
Did anything show up in these sections of the report?
I'm assuming that in addition to kappa and lambda free light chain test, your doctor ran a serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) and an immunofixation (IFE) test. Quest would likely call the tests "Protein, Total and Electrophoresis, Serum" and there would be something mentioned in the "Interpretation" section and/or a value listed under "Abnormal Protein Band 1, 2, or 3".
Did anything show up in these sections of the report?
-
Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Low lambda, high kappa-lambda ratio - meaning?
Welcome to the forum. seahorsefl.
The tests that Multibilly mentioned will be useful for determining if there is any significance to the free light chain results that you reported.
Having said that, I'm not sure you need to worry too much that the results indicate that you have anything that might be myeloma-related. I'll explain why I think that, but it's going to take a while, so bear with me.
Just so that we have complete results, I calculated your kappa and lambda free light chain levels, using the kappa-lambda ratio and lambda level that you gave. I also assumed that the units used for the test results are mg/L (I'm pretty sure that must be the case).
Anyway, these are the kappa and lambda levels:
Kappa free light chain level - 10.7 mg/L (normal) (normal range: 3.3-19.4)
Lambda free light chain level - 3.5 mg/L (low) (normal range: 5.71-26.3)
You already listed your kappa-lambda ratio:
Kappa-lambda ratio - 3.06
This ratio is above the normal range for the ratio, which is 0.26-1.65. However, in patients with reduced kidney function -- which may apply in your case -- the normal range for the ratio is actually 0.37-3.10. So your ratio is still within that range, but I don't know enough about your kidney health to really say which normal range for the ratio is relevant in your case.
Here's the key thing, though. Normally, in people with multiple myeloma or a related disease, either the kappa or lambda level is ABOVE the normal range. In your case, on the other hand, your kappa level is WITHIN the normal range, and your lambda level is BELOW the normal range.
So, as I said before, I'm guessing that these results don't really point to something that is likely to be myeloma-related.
However, the results could suggest that something is affecting the ability of your body to produce enough blood cells, so your doctors will be looking into reasons why this is happening.
Good luck, and if you have more questions, let us know. Also, when you eventually find out the reason for the test results, it would be really helpful if you could let us know.
The tests that Multibilly mentioned will be useful for determining if there is any significance to the free light chain results that you reported.
Having said that, I'm not sure you need to worry too much that the results indicate that you have anything that might be myeloma-related. I'll explain why I think that, but it's going to take a while, so bear with me.
Just so that we have complete results, I calculated your kappa and lambda free light chain levels, using the kappa-lambda ratio and lambda level that you gave. I also assumed that the units used for the test results are mg/L (I'm pretty sure that must be the case).
Anyway, these are the kappa and lambda levels:
Kappa free light chain level - 10.7 mg/L (normal) (normal range: 3.3-19.4)
Lambda free light chain level - 3.5 mg/L (low) (normal range: 5.71-26.3)
You already listed your kappa-lambda ratio:
Kappa-lambda ratio - 3.06
This ratio is above the normal range for the ratio, which is 0.26-1.65. However, in patients with reduced kidney function -- which may apply in your case -- the normal range for the ratio is actually 0.37-3.10. So your ratio is still within that range, but I don't know enough about your kidney health to really say which normal range for the ratio is relevant in your case.
Here's the key thing, though. Normally, in people with multiple myeloma or a related disease, either the kappa or lambda level is ABOVE the normal range. In your case, on the other hand, your kappa level is WITHIN the normal range, and your lambda level is BELOW the normal range.
So, as I said before, I'm guessing that these results don't really point to something that is likely to be myeloma-related.
However, the results could suggest that something is affecting the ability of your body to produce enough blood cells, so your doctors will be looking into reasons why this is happening.
Good luck, and if you have more questions, let us know. Also, when you eventually find out the reason for the test results, it would be really helpful if you could let us know.
Re: Low lambda, high kappa-lambda ratio - meaning?
Thank you very much for your detailed reply!
The only other thing I can contribute from an 8 page report is my MCHC was low at 31.9 and my RDW was high at 15.8. Also a TRACE on my leukocyte esterase. The only thing I saw that said "SED Rate by Modified Westergren," which was a 1.
Does that help any?
The only other thing I can contribute from an 8 page report is my MCHC was low at 31.9 and my RDW was high at 15.8. Also a TRACE on my leukocyte esterase. The only thing I saw that said "SED Rate by Modified Westergren," which was a 1.
Does that help any?
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