Premium
Circulating monoclonal B lymphocytes in multiple myeloma
Author(s) -
Chiu E. K. W.,
Ganeshaguru K.,
Hoffbrand A. V.,
Mehta A. B.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1989.tb07646.x
Subject(s) - monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance , peripheral blood mononuclear cell , multiple myeloma , bone marrow , medicine , monoclonal , clone (java method) , monoclonal antibody , antibody , immunology , pathology , biology , gene , biochemistry , in vitro
Summary. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 28 patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and nine patients with monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS) were studied by immunoglobulin gene analysis. Clonal immunoglobulin gene rearrangements in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBIGRA) were demonstrated in 10 of the 28 MM patients (36%). Bone marrow and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were studied simultaneously in five of these 10 patients, and identical gene rearrangements were demonstrated in both. The incidence of such gene arrangements was higher in patients with active disease (cases at presentation or relapsed = 10/19 [47%]) compared to remission status (0/9) and higher in untreated (47%) compared to treated patients (11%) ( P <0.05). Patients with this phenomenon had higher serum calcium levels ( P <0.001), and higher bone marrow plasma cell counts ( P <0.05). Serum creatinine and β 2 ‐microglobulin were also higher but did not reach statistical significance. None of the patients with monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance had gene arrangements. Our findings confirm that circulating B lymphocytes are part of the malignant clone in MM and their presence correlates with high tumour volume.