In general, progression to one of these malignant outcomes occurs at a rate of 2% to 3% per year. Individuals with higher serum IgM or lower serum albumin levels progress at faster rates than those with normal levels of these parameters. Light chain MGUS
Individuals diagnosed with light chain MGUS typically do not express detectable levels of an IgG, IgA, IgD, IgE, or IgM intact myeloma protein in their blood. Rather, they overexpress a monoclonal, aberrant free κ (i.e. kappa) or λ (i.e., lambda) immunoglobulin light chain. For diagnosis, the κ and λ free light chains are quantified by immunological methods and the ratio of κ to λ light chains is used to detect unbalanced light chain synthesis that is indicative of a monoclonal light chain plasma cell dyscrasia. Light chain MGUS is defined as a disorder in which a serum κ to λ free light chain ratio falls outside the normal range of 0.26–1.65 (mean =0.9) provided that it is not associated with: a) any of the CRAB criteria, b) a bone marrow plasma cell count of 10 or a higher percentage of nucleated cells, c) evidence of amyloid deposition (see Light chain deposition disease), and d) an accumulation of 0.5 or more grams of the monoclonal light chain in the urine over a 24-hour period.
See also
Visual impairment

References


== Further reading ==