Light Chain (Bence Jones) Multiple Myeloma (LCMM)
Detect Light Chain Multiple Myeloma first time.
Freelite is a suitable alternative to 24-hour urine testing in the diagnosis and monitoring of light chain multiple myeloma.
Approximately 15% of MM patients have only monoclonal free light chain and no monoclonal intact immunoglobulin secreted by the malignant clone. These patients are difficult to diagnose as they frequently show no abnormality when tested by Serum Protein Electrophoresis (SPE). For this reason it has been recommended that a 24 hour urine collection is tested for the presence of monoclonal free light chains. However, urine tests for free light chains can be negative early in the disease as the capacity for reabsorption of light chains by the kidneys must be exceeded before free light chains appear in the urine.
Other contributory factors to the inherent difficulty of the urine assay are patient compliance to a 24 hour urine collection together with inaccuracy and poor precision of the technique itself.
...the serum free light chain proved sensitive enough for correlation with clinical events.
Using serum as the test medium the problems of urine assays can be overcome. In a recent study1, serum measurements of free light chains were used to detect 100% of patients with LCMM.
For some patients, eg patient 6 urine free light chain concentrations are too low for reliable quantification. However, serum free light chains can be measured at all times.2
Summary
- Detect the Multiple Myeloma patients that frequently show no abnormality by serum protein electrophoresis (SPE).
- Freelite serum assays are more sensitive than conventional urine methods.
- Download Literature - Light Chain Multiple Myeloma Code MKG241
- Download FRENCH Literature - Light Chain Multiple Myeloma Code MKG280
