Biclonal IgM gammopathy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Schaffner, K.F.; Krause, J.R.; Kelly, R.H.
Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine 112(2): 206-208
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9985 PMID: 3122707 Document Number: 318858
The associationof chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with serum paraproteinemia (ie, monoclonal immunoglobulin production and secretion) is well known. We, however, could find only three previous reports of CLL were multiple serum paraproteins were encountered. We describe a case of biclonal gammopathy in CLL, involving IgM/.kappa. and IgM/.lambda. with each paraprotein reaching serum levels of approximately 10 g/L (1 g/dL). Using immunohistochemical techniques, we identified two morphologically similar lymphocyte populations, which could be stained for either .mu. and .kappa. or .mu. and .lambda. The peripheral blood contained a majority of .mu./.kappa.-containing cells (.kappa./.lambda. = 17.5:1), while the bone marrow only contained a modest excess of cells staining for .mu./.kappa. (.kappa./.lambda. = 2.4:1). The clinical significance and prognosis of biclonal IgM gammopathies is uncertain, since so few cases have been reported. Our patient has now been followed up for more than four years.