[GaryWAVE]

Treatment for high kappa light chain levels?

by GaryWAVE on Thu Feb 04, 2016 10:33 am

I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma back in 2006 and received treatment with thalidomide and steroids and went into remission since then.

My problem involves protein in the urine, which lowers my kidney function, which basically has been between 52% and 59%. Recently my kappa light chain has soared to around 1100 and the ratio has hit around 110. My creatinine level is only slightly over the normal range. It's been stable for years. So far all my x-rays have found nothing abnormal.

Has anyone here found that supplements and/or vitamins helped in lowering the kappa light chain? If anyone else has similar symptoms, what medicines have helped you lower your levels? I'd like to be a bit more informed when I see my oncologist.

Thanks for your help.

[Ellen Harris]

Re: Treatment for high kappa light chain levels?

by Ellen Harris on Thu Feb 04, 2016 12:31 pm

Ten years is a long time to have stable or remissive disease. That is excellent! It is probably time for you to resume treatment at this point. There are no supplements or vitamins that I know of that decrease the light chains. It's good that your x-rays are clear; however, you should probably go for a complete re-staging, including bone marrow biopsy, to get a clear picture of your disease status.

If you were responsive to thalidomide and dex in 2006, perhaps you can re-start that. If not, there are many more treatment options than there were when you were first treated. Do you have any new symptoms – i.e., bone pain, anemia, fatigue? I would not wait too long to begin treatment because of the long term effect on your kidneys.

I hope you return to your remissive state very quickly. Please let us know how you do.

Ellen Harris