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Plasma cell labeling index

by Pauline on Thu Sep 27, 2012 5:26 pm

Could anyone clarify for me. I recently had a bone marrow biopsy and my plasma cell labeling index was .6, which it said was intermediate proliferative rate. Then it says kappa myeloma (k:l>4:1 and >20% plasma cells. At the beginning of the report it says %PC 37. This was mailed to me and I don't see my doctor for a few months. Is the 37% the number of plasma cells in the bone marrow? Another report said plasma cell myeloma with approximately 20% kfl chain plasma cells. Very confused.

Pauline

Re: Plasma cell labeling index

by suzierose on Fri Sep 28, 2012 10:27 am

Hi Pauline,

The PC 37% refers to the number of myeloma clonal cells in the bone marrow in the S-phase of cell division which allows quantification of the proliferative rate of myeloma clonal cells.

https://myelomabeacon.org/forum/plasma-cell-labeling-index-t853.html

Free Light Chain (FLC) is used more often today as it is more accurate and picks up those patients who may have non-secretory myeloma.

Briefly, myeloma is a disease of the immune systems. Our immune system has 5 major immunoglobulins that produce specific types of antibodies. Those five immunoglobulins (IG) are designated G, A, M, E, D...and they are composed of heavy & light chains. The heavy chains are designated GAMED. There are 2 light chains and they are designated kappa and lambda. These light chains are attached (bound) to the heavy chains in normal immune systems. In myeloma the light chains are unattached (free). The test FLC, measures which light chain is unattached kappa or lamba and that type specifies your myeloma type i.e. kappa light chain if that is the one disproportionately unattached from it's heavy chain which could be IGg kappa myeloma. or IGa etc.

Based on your test results you have kappa light chains free in a ratio of 4 to 1 to the lambda light chains.

Your SPEP or M spike will tell you which of the heavy chains is running loose i.e. GAMED
then you will be classified as a myeloma type based on the heavy and light chains that are
unbound...i.e. IGg kappa, or IGa lambda etc.

suzierose
Name: suzierose
When were you/they diagnosed?: 2 sept 2011


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