Individual serum proteins and acute phase reactants in monoclonal immunoglobulinopathies (a study in patients with IgG myeloma)

Abstract

In 92 patients with multiple myeloma and IgG monoclonal proteinemia concentrations of seventeen different serum proteins were specifically determined. Prealbumin, albumin, alpha, HS-glycoprotein, alpha-macroglobulin, transferrin and immunoglobulins IgA, IgM and IgD were significantly decreased in patients with IgG myeloma. On the contrary the means found for the typical acute phase proteins i.e. haptoglobin, orosomucoid and CRP were significantly elevated. No significant differences were demonstrated for less typical acute phase protients, i.e. alpha1-antitrypsin, ceruloplasmin and C3-component as well as for hemopexin and beta2-glycoprotein I. CRP values were strongly elevated in some sera, however in majority of patients they were within the normal limits. Negative correlation was found between monoclonal IgG and the most of the studied proteins inclusive immunoglobulins IgA, IgM and IgD. No correlation was demonstrated between the monoclonal IgG and the triad of typical acute phase proteins. Positive correlation was found between monoclonal IgG and the total serum protein and further among the proteins negatively correlated with monoclonal IgG as well as among the individual acute phase proteins. Explanation of the correlations reported has been suggested.