[JaniceT]

Test shows presence of free lambda light chains

by JaniceT on Thu Aug 11, 2016 10:30 am

While going over some of my test results I came across this.

Serum Immunofix / Immunotyping

June 09, 2016 10:45 Serum Immunofix / Immunotyping (c)

Immunotyping / Immunofixation electrophoresis demonstrates the presence of free lambda light chains without correspond­ing heavy chain component. There is no mono­clonal G, A, M, D, or E heavy chain protein present. This is a new finding. The result was con­firmed by immuno­fixa­tion. Clinico­patho­logic correla­tion is recom­mended. Recom­mend re­peat testing in 1-2 months.

Is this good or bad? I had an autologous stem cell transplant in February of this year and had relapsed before my three-month check up.

[Ron Harvot]

Re: Test shows presence of free lambda light chains

by Ron Harvot on Thu Aug 11, 2016 1:06 pm

Unless I am missing something, there was no published results. All this test does is identify if you have a paraprotein marker and the type of paraprotein, but it does not quantify it.

[Ron Harvot]

Re: Test shows presence of free lambda light chains

by Ron Harvot on Thu Aug 11, 2016 1:10 pm

Sorry, after reading the footnote, I see that it indicates you have no monoclonal heavy chains, which is a new finding. That I would interpret as good news as it implies you had some of those markers previously.

I would discuss with my oncologist.

[TerryH]

Re: Test shows presence of free lambda light chains

by TerryH on Thu Aug 11, 2016 2:14 pm

Hi Janice,

Three basic blood tests are used track a patient's multiple myeloma and its reaction to treatment:

Serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) - This tells you how big your M-spike is, if you have one. It does not tell you, however, what sort of M-spike you have (for example, IgG kappa, or IgA lambda).

-> Someone who does not have multiple myeloma does not have any monoclonal protein, so the "reference range" for an M-spike is 0.

Serum immunofixation - This tells you whether any sort of monoclonal protein was detected in your blood, and, if any is detected, what sort of monoclonal protein it is. But it will not tell you how much of the monoclonal protein is detected.

-> This is the sort of test you had done. It detected that you have monoclonal lambda free light chains, but it didn't find any monoclonal IgA, IgG, etc.
-> Again, someone who does not have multiple myeloma usually does not have any monoclonal protein in their blood. So a healthy person's serum immunofixation will be "negative" for any monoclonal protein.

Serum free light chain assay - This tells you what the level of your kappa and lambda free light chains are. The test measures both monoclonal and polyclonal kappa and lambda free light chain levels. So even someone who is healthy will have some kappa and lambda free light chain levels.

Hope this helps a bit.