Characteristics of unexpected protein bands in multiple myeloma patients after autologous stem cell transplantation

Soo Kyung Kim, Tae Dong Jeong, So Young Kim, Woochang Lee, Sail Chun, Cheol Won Suh, Won Ki Min

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the characteristics of unexpected protein bands (UPBs) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Design and methods: Individuals diagnosed with MM (n= 193) were enrolled. Their medical records and IFE patterns were reviewed. Results: Of the patients that underwent ASCT, 54% developed UPBs. The median time for UPB appearance and duration was 1.8 and 5.7. months, respectively. IFE revealed 74.1% of UPBs to be of the immunoglobulin G type and 72.2% to be of the κ-type. At UPB appearance, 42.6% of patients were defined as sCR or CR, and 50.0% of the patients satisfying the CR criteria had an abnormal FLC ratio. Of the patients who developed UPBs, five relapsed. Among these, four patients showed disappearance of the previous IFE oligoclonality and reappearance of the original paraprotein at relapse. Conclusions: Close follow-up of UPBs is critical for evaluating MM therapeutic response and disease progression. The presence of monoclonal bands may indicate relapse of disease, but in the vast majority of cases with UPBs, it does not; instead, it most likely represents a transient phenomenon caused by the immune response.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)588-592
Number of pages5
JournalClinical Biochemistry
Volume47
Issue number7-8
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2014

Keywords

  • Free light chain ratio
  • Immunofixation electrophoresis
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Unexpected protein band

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