Plasma Cell Disorders Flashcards
Plasma cell
terminally differentiated, non dividing cell representing final stage of B cell lymphocyte
requires antigen dependent maturation
Main fucntion: production of antibodies (immunoglobin)
Life span: approx. 1 month
Plasma cell strutcure
- round, eccentric nucleaus with coarse chromatin (may have clock face)
- Abundant basophilic cytoplasm
- Prominent perinuclear hof (clearing)
immunoglobin structure and function
Composed of 2 homologous heavy chains and 2 homologous light chains
Heavy chains of immunoglobin
gamma (IgG, alpha(IgA), mu(IgM), delta(IgD), episilon (IgE)
light chains
kappa or lambda
immunoglobin overproduction is
hallmark of plasma cell disorders
serum protein contains:
Albumin ( majority)
Alpha Globulins
- a1 - antitrypsin (small amt)
- a2 - macroglobulin
Beta Globulun
- beta-lipoprotein and transferring (small amt)
Gamma globulin - immunoglobin (remaining amt)
Serum preotein and albumin measurement allow us to approximate immunoglobin (Ig fraction)
estimated Ig Fraction =
total serum protein - albumin
Electrophoresis
Seperates the serum proteins into albumin, alpha, beta and gamma globulin
increased immunoglobin -> gamma region
a1 - antitrypsin TGB
a1
a2
haptoglobin
ceruloplasmin
a2- macroglobulin
monoclonal
Abs derived from single anestral cell
polyclonal
Abs derived from more than one Ab producing cell
spikes in electophoresis caused by monoclonal Ig
monoclonal spike or M-spike
further identification of the M-spike protein is carried out by
immunofixation
immunofixation
- Migrate 5 seperate lanes, mono-specific Ab (toward heavy or light chain) are added
- Mono-specific antibodies bind to antigen of serum antibodies (heavy or light chain and complex)
- complexes precipitate and are measured
An M spike is characterized by a combinaiton of
- sharp, well defined band associated with a single heavy chain
- sharp, well defined band associated with a specific light chain
plasma cell disorders display
monoclonal spike
Ig classes are quantitated by
rate nephleometry
patient serum is mixed with specific
reagent to create Ag-Ab complexes
Ag-Ab causes
light scatter which is measured
helps us accurately quantitate Ig, but does NOT assess monoclonality
nephelometry is useful in combination with
electrophoresis, in following plasma cell disorders
Ig light chains in urine
Bence-Jones Proteinuria
imbalanced Ig production most frequently yields
excess free light chains (FLC)
increased FLC
leads to filtration in urine
- called Bence-Jones proteinuria
FLC can deposit in
kidney
- lead to more leakage of protein into the urine
- severe – kidney failure
Use 24 hr urine collections to perform to perform a precipitation or electrophoresis assay for determination.
Excess monoclonal immunoglobin can lead to
- Hyperviscosity
- Decreased production of normal immunoglobin
- Cryoglobins
Hyperviscosity syndrome
Excess immunoglobin causes blood to become viscuos
- higher resitance to flow in bood vessels
- decreased blood flow in small vessels of vital organs
- increased workload on the heart
Leads to symptoms of
- confusion
- headache
- dementia
- distrubances of conciousness
- stroke
- and/or coma
Plasma exchange (Plasmapheresis) is an emergency therapy for symptomatic patients