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J Clin Pathol 1980;33:936-945 doi:10.1136/jcp.33.10.936
  • Research Article

Immunochemical and ultrastructural study of multiple myeloma with a heavy chain protein in the serum.

  1. C Bartoloni,
  2. G Flamini,
  3. N Gentiloni,
  4. M A Russo,
  5. C Barone,
  6. G Gambassi,
  7. T Terranova

      Abstract

      A patient with multiple myeloma had antigenically related monoclonal Fc-gamma fragments and complete IgG-kappa molecules in the serum. The urine contained only Fc-gamma fragments in the absence of Bence-Jones protein. The two distinct M-components in the serum showed electrophoretic identity but could be separated by chromatography. The simultaneous presence of complete monoclonal IgG molecules and Fc-gamma fragments, though difficult to detect, could be a frequent occurrence in multiple myeloma, and it could be defined as 'double paraproteinaemia'. A detailed ultrastructural study was performed in this case and showed fibril bundles being released from the malignant plasma cells; such fibrils could be the supramolecular organisation of the neosynthesised heavy chain fragments.

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