Monoclonal Light Chains with alpha 2 mobility on Serum Protein Electrophoresis.

Abstract

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a neoplasm characterized by malignant proliferation of plasma cells that produce excessive quantities of a single type of immunoglobulin (Ig) called as monoclonal immunoglobulin or M-protein or paraprotein. M-protein produced can be either an intact antibody with both heavy and light-chain components or only light chains or rarely only heavy chains. Presence of M-protein in serum protein electrophoresis (PEP) is useful in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of MM and other plasma cell dyscrasias. These M-proteins are identified commonly in beta and gamma regions and very rarely in alpha 2 region, appearing as a narrow band in agarose electrophoresis or as a sharp symmetric spike (M-spike) or peak in capillary zone electrophoresis. Here, we present an unusual case of monoclonal light chains producing two M- spikes in the alpha 2 globulin region in capillary zone electrophoresis.