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

Authors:
  • CBC Bartoloni
    C Bartoloni
  • GFG Flamini
    G Flamini
  • NGN Gentiloni
    N Gentiloni
  • MRM A Russo
    M A Russo
  • CBC Barone
    C Barone
  • GGG Gambassi
    G Gambassi
  • TTT Terranova
    T Terranova
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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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