Idiotypic peripheral blood lymphocytes in monoclonal gammopathy

Abstract

Using two sets of anti-idiotypic antibody reagents (from guinea-pig and rabbit origin), idiotypic peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) could be shown in multiple myeloma (MM) patients in relapse, but not in remission. In patients having the benign form of monoclonal gammopathy (BMG), idiotypic lymphocytes were lacking except in some patients which were depicted as a `high risk' group, by a multivariate rating system. If present, idiotypic lymphocytes accounted for 1-4% of PBL.