Detection of free light chains – A New Method of Diagnostics of Haematological Diseases

Overview

Background.
To diagnose monoclonal gamopathy, one of the most frequent haematological diseases, we use immunochemical assays, which are based on the detection of paraprotein in serum and/or urine.

Methods and Results.
The most common laboratory assays we use are SPE (serum protein electrophoresis) and IFE (immunofixation electrophoresis). New method represents the detection of free light chain (FLC) in serum. In our study we compared those three methods (SPE, IFE and FLC) from the point of sensitivity of paraprotein detection. For FLC detection was used Freelite system analyzer (Immunotech Beckman Coulter). We examined 51 patients with diagnosis of multiple myeloma, nonHodgkin’s lymphoma, primary amyloidosis and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance.

Conclusions.
Detection of FLC is a valuable method which sometimes could specify diagnosis of MG and make the treatment more accurate.

Key words:
multiple myeloma, detection of paraprotein, free light chains.