METHOD FOR CHARACTERISING PLASMA CELL ASSOCIATED DISEASES

摘要

The invention provides a method for characterising a plasma cell associated disease in a patient comprising: (i) providing at least one sample from the patient; (ii) determining in the sample(s) two or more of; (a) the &kgr;:λ free light chain (FLC) ratio; (b) the ratio of &kgr; light chains bound to a class of heavy chain:λ light chain bound to the same class of heavy chain (HLC&kgr;:HLC λ ratio); (c) the total amount of FLC in the samples and (d) the total amount of &kgr; light chains bound to the heavy chain class plus λ light chains bound to the same heavy chain class (total HLC); (iii) comparing each ratio or amount from (a) (b), (c) and/or (d) to predetermined values and assigning a score to each amount or ratio; and (iv) using the scores to characterise the plasma cell associated disease. Apparatus configured to carry out the method of the invention are also provided. The invention also provides a kit comprising, in combination, (i) anti-&kgr; FLC specific and anti-λ FLC specific antibodies or fragments thereof and (ii) anti-&kgr; heavy chain class specific and anti-λ heavy chain class specific antibodies or fragments thereof, optionally mixed together.