Summary of Data

Click to enlarge

NOTE: Click on the image above to enlarge

Logarithmic scale plot of absolute free kappa (κ) and free lambda (λ) concentrations in a group of normal patients and those with a variety of B cell dyscrasia. Calculation of the κ/λ ratio distinguishes elevated polyclonal immunoglobulin and renal impairment (κ/λ ratio is normal) from monoclonal gammopathies with an abnormal / ratio e.g. Lambda and Kappa BJ. More

Published data indicate that 100% of patients with Light Chain (Bence Jones) Multiple Myeloma1, 82% of patients with Nonsecretory Multiple Myeloma2, over 98% of patients with AL amyloidosis3 and 96% of Intact Immunoglobulin Multiple Myeloma patients4 have abnormal serum free light chain concentrations. This improvement in disease detection rates, and the superior utility of serum free light chains for disease monitoring, may obviate the need for urine free light chain tests in most patients with monoclonal plasma diseases.

Several recent studies have indicated the use of serum free light chains as an independent marker of prognosis* in multiple myeloma patients5-9. Additionally, the serum free light chain ratio has been identified as a major new independent risk factor for progression of patients with MGUS* to multiple myeloma or other related disorders10.

Serum free light chain assays are included in an increasing number of guidelines for the diagnosis and management of Multiple Myeloma and AL amyloidosis including specific guidelines on their use by the International Myeloma Working Group. They have also been added to the new International uniform response criteria for assessing clinical outcomes in multiple myeloma.

A recent review by Sundar Jagannath, St Vincent's Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York, looks at the value of these assays in haematology11. General information on the use of serum free light chains is also available in a Clinical Chemistry editorial12, a Clinical Laboratory News (CLN) article, June 2006 and an easy to read "Guide to Diagnosis and Monitoring with Freelite" from Binding Site.

* In the USA diagnostic use of this product is restricted to those stated in the product insert

Biennial 2008Binding Site sponsors 5th International Symposium on Clinical Applications of Serum Free Light Chain Analysis

18-19 September 2008, Assembly Rooms, Bath

Biennial 2008 was attended by around 400 haematologists, nephrologists and laboratory experts from all over the world.

An international panel of distinguished speakers including Robert Kyle, Brian Durie, Jerry Katzmann, Angela Dispenzieri, Paul Sanders and Giampaolo Merlini presented their findings from several recent clinical trials utilising results generated by Freelite. They discussed how they incorporate Freelite testing into their clinical practice and its benefits to patients.

Researchers also highlighted the use of a new assay called Hevylite™, complementary to Freelite, due to be launched later in 2009 by Binding Site. Data on samples tested using this unique assay for heavy chain measurement were presented and the value of the heavy chain ratio explained.

Additionally, significant results from a number of sites utilising Gambro's HCO 1100 "High Cut-off" membrane technology for removal of free light chains using extended haemodialysis were presented.

Haematology Meeting ReportsHematology Meeting Reports of Proceedings of Biennial 2008 Conference

Haematologica, the official journal of the European Hematology Association, has published the session and poster abstracts from Biennial 2008.

Click the link below to find the synopsis of all talks at Biennial 2008 and all abstracts plus a pdf download.

http://www.haematologicareports.org/2008/2/index.html

 

Audio presentations of most talks are also now available to view.

 

www.biennial2008.org for more information on this conference.

* In the USA diagnostic use of this product is restricted to those stated in the product insert

How I use Freelite

Interviews with leading clinical experts

Serum Free Light Chain Analysis 5th Edition

BooksAR Bradwell
Serum Free Light Chain Analysis (Plus Hevylite) 5th Edition
The book is available to order US $75.
Please contact your local office or distributor.

References

  1. Arthur R Bradwell, Hugh D Carr-Smith, Graham P Mead, Timothy C Harvey, Mark T Drayson.
    "Serum test for assessment of patients with Bence Jones myeloma"
    Lancet 2003;361:489-491

    Reference: MKG189 Quantity:

  2. Mark Drayson, Liang X. Tang, Roger Drew, Graham P. Mead, Hugh Carr-Smith, and Arthur R. Bradwell.
    "Serum free light-chain measurements for identifying and monitoring patients with nonsecretory multiple myeloma"
    Blood 2001;97:9:2900-2902

    Reference: MKG183 Quantity:

  3. Helen J. Lachmann, Ruth Gallimore, Julian D. Gillmore, Hugh D. Carr-Smith, Arthur R. Bradwell, Mark B. Pepys and Philip N. Hawkins.
    "Outcome in systemic AL amyloidosis in relation to changes in concentration of circulating free immunoglobulin light chains following chemotherapy"
    BJH 2003;122:78-84

    Reference: MKG200 Quantity:

  4. G. P. Mead, H. D. Carr-Smith, M. T. Drayson, G. J. Morgan, J. A. Child and A. R. Bradwell.
    "Serum free light chains for monitoring multiple myeloma"
    BJH 2004;126:348-354

    Reference: MKG228 Quantity:

  5. Frits van Rhee, Vanessa Bolejack, Klaus Hollmig, Mauricio Pineda-Roman, Elias Anaissie, Joshua Epstein, John D. Shaughnessy Jr, Maurizio Zangari, Guido Tricot, Abid Mohiuddin, Yazan Alsayed, Gail Woods, John Crowley, and Bart Barlogie
    "High serum-free light chain levels and their rapid reduction in response to therapy define an aggressive multiple myeloma subtype with poor prognosis"
    Blood, 2007; 110(3):827-832

    Reference: MKG381 Quantity:

  6. Marie-Christine Kyrtsonis, Theodoros P. Vassilakopoulos, Nicoletta Kafasi, Sotirios Sachanas, Tatiana Tzenou, Argiroula Papadogiannis, Zacharoula Galanism Christina Kalpadakis, Maria Dimou, Elias Kyriakou, Maria K. Angelopoulou, Maria N. Dimopoulou, Marina P. Siakantaris, Evangelia M. Dimitriadou, Styliani I. Kokoris, Panayiotis Panayiotidis and Gerassimos A. Pangalis
    "Prognostic value of serum free light chain ratio at diagnosis in multiple myeloma"
    British Journal of Haematology 2007; 137:240-243

    Reference: MKG370 Quantity:

  7. CLH Snozek, JA Katzmann, RA Kyle, A Dispenzieri, DR Larson, TM Therneau, LJ Melton III, S Kumar, PR Greipp, RJ Clark and SV Rajkumar
    "Prognostic value of the serum free light chain ratio in newly diagnosed myeloma: proposed incorporation into the international staging system"
    Leukemia advance online publication, 3 July 2008; doi:10.1038/leu.2008.171

    Reference: MKG452 Quantity:

  8. Kyrtsonis et al.
    "Serum free light chain measurement aids the diagnosis of myeloma in patients with severe renal failure"
    Blood 2007; 110:1490a

  9. Angela Dispenzieri, Robert A. Kyle, Jerry A. Katzmann, Terry M. Therneau, Dirk Larson, Joanne Benson, Raynell J. Clark, L. Joseph Melton III, Morie A. Gertz, Shaji K. Kumar, Rafael Fonseca, Diane F. Jelinek, S. Vincent Rajkumar
    "Immunoglobulin free light chain ratio is an independent risk factor for progression of smoldering (asymptomatic) multiple myeloma"
    Blood 2008 111(2):785-789

    Reference: MKG414 Quantity:

  10. S.Vincent Rajkumar, Robert A. Kyle, Terry M. Therneau, L. Joseph Melton III, Arthur R. Bradwell, Raynell J. Clark, Dirk R. Larson, Matthew F. Plevak, Angela Dispenzieri, Jerry A. Katzmann.
    "Serum free light chain ratio is an independent risk factor for progression in monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)"
    Blood 2005;106;3: 812-817

    Reference: MKG275 Quantity:

  11. Sundar Jagannath
    "Value of Serum Free Light Chain Testing for the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Monoclonal Gammopathies in Hematology."
    Clinical Lymphoma and Myeloma 2007 7(8):518-523

    Reference: MKG405 Quantity:

  12. Arthur R. Bradwell.
    "Serum Free Light Chain Measurements Move to Center Stage"
    Clin Chem 2005;51:5:805-807

    Reference: MKG254 Quantity: