Paraproteinaemias
Paraproteins are immunoglobulins of a single, unique structure i.e. produced by a single clone, which are present in sufficient amounts to be seen on serum electrophoresis. A sharp band is seen because all of the molecules have an identical structure. Examples include:
Benign:
- monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance
Malignant:
- Myeloma
- Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia
- Heavy chain disease
Other causes of paraproteinaemias include:
- paroxysmal cold haemoglobinuria - Donath-Landsteiner antibody
- cold haemagglutinin disease - IgM paraprotein
- warm antibody haemolytic anaemia
- chronic lymphatic leukaemia - IgG or IgM paraprotein
Reference
- Kanzaki G, Okabayashi Y, Nagahama K, et al. Monoclonal Immunoglobulin Deposition Disease and Related Diseases. J Nippon Med Sch. 2019;86(1)
Related pages
- Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
- Myeloma
- Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia
- Heavy chain disease
- Paroxysmal cold haemoglobinuria
- Warm reactive autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
- Cold reactive autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
- Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
- Serum electrophoresis (separation of protein components, immunodiffusion)
- Light chain deposition disease (LCDD)
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