Table of Contents
How is light-chain deposition disease treated?
There is no standard treatment for patients with LCDD. Chemotherapy with alkylating agents and steroids has shown modest results. High-dose melphalan (HDM) with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) has been used in some patients and has led to improvement of renal function.
What causes light-chain deposition disease?
The underlying cause of LCDD is unknown. It is often associated with multiple myeloma. LCDD may progress to multiple myeloma, or it may be present with multiple myeloma when it is first diagnosed.
Is kappa light-chain disease curable?
Multiple myeloma doesn’t have a cure, but it can often be successfully managed for many years. Types of treatment include: chemotherapy. targeted therapy.
Which is worse kappa or lambda?
Patients with lambda light chain disease have a three times worse prognosis than kappa light chain disease.
What is lambda light chain?
Light chains are proteins produced by immune cells called plasma cells. Also called kappa and lambda light chains, they link together with other proteins (heavy chains) to form immunoglobulins (also known as antibodies) that target and neutralize specific threats to the body such as bacteria and viruses.
What does high lambda light chain mean?
A free light chains test measures the amount of lambda and kappa free light chains in the blood. If the amount of free light chains is higher or lower than normal, it can mean you have a disorder of the plasma cells.
What does a high lambda light chain mean?
What is light chain deposition disease?
Light chain deposition disease (LCDD) is a rare condition characterized by the deposition of specific proteins (monoclonal light chains) in the kidneys and other organs. Light chains are used to make antibodies that the body needs to fight infection. People with LCDD make too many light chains, which get deposited in many body tissues.
What are the risk factors for light chain deposition?
Light chain deposition usually occurs along with another disease affecting the whole body. The risk of developing light chain deposition varies significantly depending on the other disease that the patient has. Patients with this disease typically are over the age of 50 and have an average age of 67. The disease is more common in men than in women.
What is monoclonal light and heavy chain disease?
Monoclonal Light and Heavy Chain Diseases. The light chain deposition disease (LCDD) and heavy chain deposition disease (HCDD) are clinical variants of monoclonal plasma cell disorders characterized by the deposition of abnormal light chain, heavy chain, or both in the tissues or organs [75, 92, 93].
What is the pathophysiology of light chain lymphoma (LCD)?
The light chains in LCDD are almost always composed of kappa (κ) light chains; however, lambda (λ) light chain deposits may also occur. LCDD commonly occurs in the setting of a lymphoproliferative disorder, with multiple myeloma accounting for around 75% of cases, but may be seen with autoimmune diseases (Sjogren disease), or be idiopathic.