Kappa And Lambda Free Light Chains

There are two types of light chains.

Kappa and lambda free light chains. These unlinked chains are known as free light chains. It is used to assist in the diagnosis of plasma cell disorders including multiple myeloma primary amyloidosis monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance mgus. There are two types of light chains. If the amount of free light chains is higher or lower than normal it can mean you have a disorder of the plasma cells.

Kappa free light chains are normally monomeric while lambda free light chains tend to be dimeric joined by disulphide bonds. The exact normal ratio of kappa to lambda according to a novel polyclonal free light chain assay ranges from 0 26 to 1 65. Polymeric forms of both types of free light chain can also occur. Decreased free light chains with a normal kappa lambda ratio may be seen with a disorder that suppresses bone marrow cell production.

In normal individuals free light chains are rapidly cleared from the blood and catabolised by the kidneys. In a healthy individual the total kappa to lambda ratio is roughly 2 1 in serum measuring intact whole antibodies or 1 1 5 if measuring free light chains with a highly divergent ratio indicative of neoplasm. In general the higher the free light chains the more aggressive the disease is. With suspected primary amyloidosis an increase in serum free light chains with an abnormal kappa lambda ratio may suggest that amyloidosis is the cause of symptoms.

A free light chains test measures the amount of lambda and kappa free light chains in the blood. What are light chains.