Abstract
A 41-year-old male with IgG kappa multiple myeloma is described. He developed a free gamma heavy chain without an accompanying light chain following high-dose chemotherapy and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. The free gamma heavy chain was detected in serum and urine specimens 2 months after transplant, and eventually evolved into an IgG kappa monoclonal protein with electrophoretic properties similar to the original myeloma protein. Although the origin of the free gamma heavy chain remains uncertain, it was most likely related to the underlying plasma cell malignancy and, therefore, was an early sign of disease relapse. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2001) 27, 663–666.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $21.58 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Landis SH, Murray T, Bolden S et al. Cancer statistics 1999 CA Cancer J Clin 1999 49: 8–31
Boccadoro M, Peleri A . Diagnosis, prognosis, and standard treatment of multiple myeloma Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 1997 11: 111–131
Barlogie B, Jagannath S, Desikan KR et al. Total therapy with tandem transplants for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma Blood 1999 93: 55–65
Zent CS, Wilson CS, Tricot G et al. Oligoclonal protein bands and Ig isotype switching in multiple myeloma treated with high-dose therapy and hematopoietic cell transplantation Blood 1998 91: 3518–3523
Hovenga S, de Wolf JThM, Guikema JEJ et al. Autologous stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma after VAD and EDAP courses: a high incidence of oligoclonal serum Igs post transplantation Bone Marrow Transplant 2000 25: 723–728.
Guikema JEJ, Vellenga E, Veeneman JM et al. Multiple myeloma related cells in patients undergoing autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation Br J Haematol 1999 104: 748–754
Preud'Homme JL, Hurez D, Danon F et al. Intracytoplasmic and surface-bound immunoglobulins in ‘nonsecretory’ and Bence–Jones myeloma Clin Exp Immunol 1976 25: 428–436
Preud'Homme JL, Brouet JC, Seligmann M . Cellular immunoglobulins in human γ- and α-heavy chain diseases Clin Exp Immunol 1979 37: 283–291
Fermand JP, Brouet JC . Heavy-chain diseases Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 1999 13: 1281–1294
Fermand JP, Brouet JC, Danon F et al. Gamma heavy chain ‘disease’: heterogeneity of the clinicopathologic features. Report of 16 cases and review of the literature Medicine 1989 68: 321–335
Tricot G, Barlogie B, Jagannath S et al. Poor prognosis in multiple myeloma is associated only with partial or complete deletions of chromosomes 13 or abnormalities involving 11q and not with other karyotype abnormalities Blood 1995 86: 4250–4256
Rajkumar SV, Greipp PR . Prognostic factors in multiple myeloma Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 1999 13: 1295–1314
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Butch, A., Badros, A., Desikan, K. et al. Expression of a free gamma heavy chain in serum following autologous stem cell transplantation for IgG kappa multiple myeloma. Bone Marrow Transplant 27, 663–666 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1702850
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1702850