Cellular and Molecular Medicine Research, ISSN 2817-6359 online, Open Access
Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, Cell Mol Med Res and Elmer Press Inc
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Original Article

Volume 000, Number 000, July 2025, pages 000-000


Screening for Light Chain Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance: Pseudo Epidemic Based on Current Diagnostic Criteria

Tables

Table 1. Categorization of Urine Immunofixation Analysis
 
UIFEAge in yearsRaceGender
RangeAverageSDWhiteBlackHispanicOtherFemaleMale
UIFE-0 specimens were from patients without any indication of monoclonal gammopathy, except isolated presence of monoclonal light chain in urine. UIFE-1 specimens were from patients with extant monoclonal gammopathy or history of monoclonal gammopathy. UIFE-3 specimens were from patients with ambiguous results and UIFE-4 specimens were from one patient with polymorphus sarcoma. The number of specimens for which κ/λ ratio results were available are given in parentheses. UIFE: urine protein immunofixation electrophoresis.
UIFE-0 (with κ/λ ratio)3,230 (1,740)18 - 9661.214.61,5561,505461231,7951,435
UIFE-1 (with κ/λ ratio)1,723 (1,589)27 - 9765.311.36959721838780943
UIFE-342
UIFE-43
Total UIFE4,998

 

Table 2. Numbers and Percentage of Specimens in the UIFE-0 Category With Available SFLC Levels (N = 1,740) With Monoclonal Light Chains in Groups With Various Ranges of κ/λ Ratios
 
Kappa, NKappa, %Lambda, NLambda, %
More than 80% of the specimens with associated serum κ/λ ratio of > 3.0 or 3.15 did not exhibit monoclonal light chains in urine, or any other evidence of a monoclonal lesion. aUIFE Neg for kappa specimen with κ/λ ratio 11.53, patient with cirrhosis and creatinine 2.17. bFurther breakdown and data on these seven specimens are presented below in Table 3. cAdditional data for this group are shown in Table 4. FMLC: free monoclonal light chain; MG: monoclonal gammopathy; SFLC: serum free light chain; UIFE: urine protein immunofixation electrophoresis; UIFE-0: specimens from patients without evidence or history of MG, except solitary finding of FMLC in urine.
Total UIFE-0 with κ/λ ratio1,740
κ/λ ratio of ≤ 0.257b00342.9
κ/λ ratio of 0.26 to ≤ 1.651,13380.7131.1
κ/λ ratio of 1.66 to 2.99547132.410.2
κ/λ ratio of 3 to 353c531018.800
κ/λ ratio of 3 to 104648.700
κ/λ ratio of 10 to 3537a685.700
κ/λ ratio 0.26 - 0.7545001226.7

 

Table 3. Additional Laboratory Data for the Seven Instructive Specimens With κ/λ Ratio of ≤ 0.25
 
UIFE-0 with κ/λ ratio ≤ 0.25
UIFEκ/λ ratioGamma globulin, g/dLUrine protein, mg/dL
aSpecimens from same patient. One of the three urines without monoclonal lambda light chains was from a patient who had two urine specimens with monoclonal lambda light chain in urine; the serum specimens corresponding to the lambda monoclonal positive urine specimens had lower κ/λ ratios of 0.14 and 0.19 and higher urine protein levels, while the negative urine specimen was associated with a κ/λ ratio of 0.22 and lower total urine protein of ≤ 4.0 mg/dL. The negative result on UIFE for this patient was likely due to a combination low levels of free monoclonal lambda chains and a dilute urine that may not have been concentrated optimally. bThis specimen with κ/λ ratio of 0.22 and urine negative for monoclonal light chains was from a 21-year-old patient with acute myeloid leukemia treated with stem cell transplantation. FMLC: free monoclonal light chain; MG: monoclonal gammopathy; UIFE: urine protein immunofixation electrophoresis; UIFE-0: specimens from patients without evidence or history of MG, except solitary finding of FMLC in urine.
Negative0.113.5433
Negative0.122.241,221
Lambdaa0.140.8111
Lambdaa0.190.895
Lambda0.211.919
Negativea0.221.02≤ 4
Negativeb0.220.4926

 

Table 4. Data From Patients With κ/λ Ratio 3 to 353 Regarding Average Total Urine Protein, dK, Gamma Globulins and eGFR to Contrast the Findings in Specimens Positive for Kappa Monoclonal Light Chains and Those Negative by UIFE
 
UIFE-0 with κ/λ ratio 3 to 353
Kappa UFLCNegative UFLCP value
Specimens with monoclonal Kappa in urine had higher dK, lower gamma globulins, and higher eGFR. The higher total protein in negative specimens may have interfered with concentration of urine. eGFR: estimated glomerular filtration rate; FMLC: free monoclonal light chain; MG: monoclonal gammopathy; UIFE: urine protein immunofixation electrophoresis; UIFE-0: specimens from patients without evidence or history of MG, except solitary finding of FMLC in urine.
Average total protein74173< 0.23
Average dK30.7312.18< 0.0092
Average γ globulin0.921.82< 0.01
eGFR65.6743.65< 0.023

 

Table 5. The Range of Total Urine Protein and the Number and Percentage of Specimens With Monoclonal Light Chains, Kappa or Lambda, in the UIFE-0 Group
 
UIFE in UIFE-0 and total urine protein, mg/dL
Urine protein, mg/dLNumberUIFE positive, NUIFE positive, %
UIFE: urine protein immunofixation electrophoresis; UIFE-0: specimens from patients without evidence or history of MG, except solitary finding of FMLC in urine.
≤ 427000.0
5 - 10972111.1
11 - 1537751.3
16 - 2021362.8
21 - 2515663.8
26 - 3012632.4
31 - 7,4081,108373.19
Total3,222682.11

 

Table 6. UIFE Data for Specimens From Patients With or History of Monoclonal Gammopathy
 
UIFE-1 total 1,723 (light chain type unresolved = 49)b
Kappa, NKappa, %Lambda, NLambda, %
The number and percentage of specimens exhibiting monoclonal light chains in urine. a*Upper observed limits of κ/λ ratio for kappa and lambda chain lesions, respectively. bDespite a history of prior monoclonal gammopathy, the light chain type could not be ascertained from the records as many patients were referred to this institution for consideration of autologous bone marrow transplantation and the referral materials did not include the isotype of the involved immunoglobulin and one was not ascertained at this institution. cUIFE results did not display an unambiguous monoclonal light chain band, had a biclonal or oligoclonal pattern, or displayed heavy chain only. UIFE: urine protein immunofixation electrophoresis; UIFE-1 specimens were from patients with extant monoclonal gammopathy or history of monoclonal gammopathy.
Total UIFE-1 with κ/λ ratio1,589
κ/λ ratio of < 0.2522200.018683.8
κ/λ ratio of 0.26 to ≤ 1.65532478.810820.3
κ/λ ratio of 1.66 to 3.02576525.393.5
κ/λ ratio of 3 to 8,285a/317a47839382.200
Unresolvedc2526

 

Table 7. Subtypes of Specimens From Patient With Lambda Chain Associated Monoclonal Gammopathy or History of Such Lesion
 
UIFE-1 lambdaNumber
SFLC: serum free light chain; UIFE: urine protein immunofixation electrophoresis; UIFE-1 specimens were from patients with extant monoclonal gammopathy or history of monoclonal gammopathy.
Total specimens658
Specimens with SFLC data599
Lambda UIFE positive total329
Lambda UIFE positive with SFLC302
Neg UIFE for lambda292
UIFE positive for kappa5
Unresolved27

 

Table 8. Numbers and percentages of UIFE-1 Lambda Specimens Displaying Monoclonal Light Chains at Various κ/λ Ratio Categories
 
UIFE-1 lambda UIFE positive by κ/λ ratio, number and percentage
κ/λ ratioTotal in categoryNumber positivePercentage positive
UIFE: urine protein immunofixation electrophoresis; UIFE-1 specimens were from patients with extant monoclonal gammopathy or history of monoclonal gammopathy.
κ/λ ratio ≤ 0.2523018530.9
κ/λ ratio 0.26 to ≤ 0.751206410.7
κ/λ ratio 0.75 to ≤ 1.65195447.3
κ/λ ratio 1.66 to 3.15491.5

 

Table 9. Numbers and Percentages of UIFE-1 Lambda Specimens Displaying Monoclonal Light Chains in Various dL Categories
 
UIFE-1 lambda by net lambda (dL)
dL rangeNumber in categoryNumber positive% positive
Lowest dL = -8.1 with positive UIFE; lambda total level 11.65; κ/λ ratio 1.7. Lowest observed dL = -20.34, UIFE was neg; highest dL with Neg UIFE = 324.33. Lowest lambda total with pos UIFE = 0.24 Urine IgG L. UIFE: urine protein immunofixation electrophoresis; UIFE-1 specimens were from patients with extant monoclonal gammopathy or history of monoclonal gammopathy.
dL ≤ 12736410.7
dL 1 - 230162.7
dL 2 - 326111.8
dL ≥ 3.027021435.7
dL 3 - 1078538.8

 

Table 10. Numbers and Percentages of UIFE-1 Lambda Specimens Displaying Monoclonal Light Chains in Various Categories by Total Urine Protein Levels
 
UIFE-1 lambda and total urine protein, mg/dL
Urine protein, mg/dLNumber in categoryNumber positive% positive
The kappa marked with * was IgG kappa. Other kappas were monoclonal kappa light chain bands. UIFE: urine protein immunofixation electrophoresis; UIFE-1 specimens were from patients with extant monoclonal gammopathy or history of monoclonal gammopathy.
≤ 4.05459.3
5 to 1017141 + 1K*24.0
11 to 155230 + 3K57.7
16 to 20422354.8
21 to 254222 + 1K59.1
26 to 30221359.1
31 to 5,44526719271.9

 

Table 11. Subtypes of Specimens From Patient With Kappa Chain Associated Monoclonal Gammopathy or History of Such Lesion, i.e., UIFE-1 Kappa
 
UIFE-1 kappaNumber
SFLC: serum free light chain; UIFE-1 specimens were from patients with extant monoclonal gammopathy or history of monoclonal gammopathy.
Total specimens1,024
Specimens with SFLC data946
Kappa UIFE positive total544
Kappa UIFE positive with SFLC502
Neg UIFE for kappa450
UIFE positive for lambda0
Unresolved30

 

Table 12. Numbers and Percentages of UIFE-1 Kappa Specimens Displaying Monoclonal Light Chains at Various κ/λ Ratio Categories
 
UIFE-1 kappa UIFE positive by κ/λ ratio, % from total of 946
κ/λ ratioNumber in categoryNumber positivePercentage positive
aPositive for both Kappa and Lambda monoclonal light chains with kappa being the dominant band. UIFE-1 specimens were from patients with extant monoclonal gammopathy or history of monoclonal gammopathy.
κ/λ ratio ≤ 0.2511a100.0
κ/λ ratio ≤ 0.751915.3
κ/λ ratio ≤ 1.652224519.4
κ/λ ratio 1.66 to 2.9916210463.6
κ/λ ratio 3 - 102146329.9
κ/λ ratio 10 - 8,28532829088.4
κ/λ ratio 3 - 8,28554235365.1

 

Table 13. Numbers and Percentages of UIFE-1 Kappa Specimens Displaying Monoclonal Light Chains in Various dK Categories
 
UIFE-1 kappa by net kappa (dK)
dK rangeNumber in categoryNumber positive% positive
Lowest dK = -44.72 with positive UIFE; kappa total level 6.46; κ/λ ratio 0.13. Lowest observed dK = -44.72, UIFE was positive for both kappa and lambda. Highest dK with Neg UIFE = 317.3. Lowest kappa total with pos UIFE = 0.23 Urine IgG kappa. UIFE-1 specimens were from patients with extant monoclonal gammopathy or history of monoclonal gammopathy.
dK ≤ 12966120.6
dK 1 - 21032827.2
dK 2 - 3662943.9
dK 3.0 - 6,28048338479.5
dK 3 - 101629256.8

 

Table 14. Numbers and Percentages of UIFE-1 Kappa Specimens Displaying Monoclonal Light Chains in Various Categories by Total Urine Protein Levels
 
UIFE-1 kappa; total urine protein, mg/dL, N = 1,024
Urine protein, mg/dLNumber in categoryNumber positive% positive
UIFE-1 specimens were from patients with extant monoclonal gammopathy or history of monoclonal gammopathy.
≤ 49477.4
5 to 102596926.6
11 to 151144741.2
16 to 20875664.4
20 to 25564071.4
26 to 30402870.0
31 to 4,88037429779.4

 

Table 15. Regression Report for UIFE-0
 
EstimateStd. errorz valueU Pr. (> |z|)
(Intercept)-4.6784250.279579-16.734< 2 × 10-16***
U Pr.-0.0064370.00261-2.4660.0137*
Lambda0.0881080.0212714.1423.44 × 10-5***
Ratio0.526790.0974255.4076.40 × 10-8***
Number of positive and negative predictions (prediction accuracy rate is 0.977)Prediction_NegPrediction_Pos
To improve the diagnosis accuracy, we fitted a multivariable logistic regression that includes urine protein (U Pr.), lambda and kappa/lambda ratio as independent variables. *P < 0.05; ***P < 0.001. UIFE-0: specimens from patients without evidence or history of MG, except solitary finding of FMLC in urine.
UIFE_Neg1,6930
UIFE_Pos406