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Plasma Cell Leukemia with Excretion of Half-Molecules of Immunoglobulin A (α1 λ1)
- GEORGE M. BERNIER, M.D., F.A.C.P.;
- JACK H. BERMAN, M.D.; and
- MICHAEL W. FANGER, Ph.D.
Abstract
A patient with plasma cell leukemia and myelofibrosis excreted free immunoglobulin light chains and an abnormal monoclonal immunoglobulin (Ig) A in her urine. The IgA that was present in serum and urine had a sedimentation coefficient of 4.0 S. The molecule was comprised of both heavy and light chains but was antigenically deficient compared to normal IgA. As excreted in the urine, the protein appeared to be a half-molecule of IgA, with a partial deletion in the heavy chain, probably involving part or all of the C-terminal domain.
Article and Author Information
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▸From the Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University Hospitals of Cleveland; Department of Medicine, Saint Luke's Hospital; and Department of Microbiology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine; Cleveland, Ohio.
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Grant support: by U.S. Public Health Service grants CA 17864, AM 14700, and AI 10148. Some of the studies were carried out in the Clinical Research Center of University Hospitals (RR80).
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▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to George M. Bernier, M.D.; 2065 Adelbert Rd.; Cleveland, OH 44106.
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- Received November 12, 1976.
- Accepted February 6, 1977.
