Myeloma Flashcards
What are immunoglobulins?
Antibodies
From which cells are antibodies produced?
B lymphocytes
What is the primary role of antibodies?
To recognise and bind pathogens
What chain types make up an immunoglobin?
2 light chains
2 heavy chains
What are the 5 types of heavy chain?
IgG
IgA
IgM
IgD
IgE
What are the types of light chains?
Kappa
Lambda
What is the name of the region of the antibody which defines target binding?
Fab region
What is a paraprotein?
An area in blood where all antibodies are identical
Which immunoglobulin has the highest concentration in plasma?
IgG
What does a paraprotein indicate?
That there is monoclonal proliferation of a B lymphocyte/plasma cell somewhere in the body - i.e. a blood cancer
What are some tests that can be carried out to determine the presence of paraproteins?
Electrophoresis
Total Immunoglobulin levels
Which paraprotein is associated with lymphomas?
IgM
Which paraproteins are associated with myeloma?
IgG
IgA
What is myeloma?
Cancer of plasma cells resulting in excessive production of a single immunoglobulin (paraprotein)
In what age group is myeloma most common?
7th decade
Which ethnic group is most at risk of myeloma?
Black people
What are the clinical features of myeloma?
Bone disease
Bone marrow failure (anaemia)
Infections
What are the effects of paraproteins?
Nephrotic syndrome
Hyperviscosity resulting in bleeding
How are myelomas diagnosed?
When plasma cells make up > 10% of total bone marrow cell population
How is the stage of a myeloma calculated?
Based on albumin levels
How is myeloma treated?
1 - Chemotherapy
2 - Radiotherapy
3 - Bisphosphonates
4 - Steroids
With which condition are IgM paraproteins associated with?
Low-grade lymphomas
