Session Overview: The role of Free Light Chains in the Diagnosis of Monoclonal Gammopathies
Dr Katzmann began his presentation by reminding the audience that the monoclonal gammopathies are a diverse group of diseases. These plasma cell disorders secrete a wide range of monoclonal proteins, varying significantly both in molecular weight and in the unique variable region sequences. As such, there are three tests currently used to diagnose monoclonal gammopathies – protein electrophoresis (PEL), immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) and free light chain (FLC) analysis.