High dose chemotherapy and stem cell support in a patient of light- and heavy-chain deposition disease with abnormal marrow cell surface antigens and no monoclonal protein

A 53-year-old man with nephrotic syndrome and severe renal failure was diagnosed with light- and heavy-chain deposition disease (LHCDD) by renal biopsy. The patient had no monoclonal protein and mild marrow plasmacytosis (6%), but marrow plasma cells expressed CD19(-)CD56+ and predominant monoclonal kappa-chain, indicating plasma cell dyscrasia. Conventional chemotherapy was ineffective and did not improve renal failure. High dose chemotherapy/peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (HDC/PBSCT) was introduced even after hemodialysis to eliminate aberrant clone and normalization of bone marrow cell surface markers. Immunophenotypic analysis of marrow cells facilitates clinical decision making regarding the use of HDC/PBSCT for LHCDD patients without monoclonal protein.     

Abnormal immunoglobulin synthesis in monoclonal immunoglobulin light chain and light and heavy chain deposition disease.

The Congo red-binding fibrils of AL amyloidosis are the most common form of monoclonal immunoglobulin tissue deposition (MIDD). Nonetheless, the less structured deposits found in light chain deposition disease (LCDD) and the similar, but distinct, deposits of light and heavy chain deposition disease (LHCDD) and heavy chain deposition disease (HCDD) can produce significant clinical pathology. Analyses of immunoglobulin synthesis by bone marrow cells obtained from 7 patients with LCDD and LHCDD demonstrated the production of excess light chains in all and the presence of incomplete light chains or heavy chain fragments in 5, regardless of the presence of an intact monoclonal protein or related subunit in the serum or urine. Our data indicate that, as is the case with the fibrillar deposits of AL amyloid, the non-fibrillar forms of monoclonal Ig deposition (LCDD and LHCDD) can be associated with the presence of immunoglobulin fragments in bone marrow cells. In some instances these appeared to be synthetic in origin, although rapid intracellular proteolysis or a combination of both could not be excluded. In either case the fragments may be more susceptible to tissue deposition, with subsequent organ compromise, than intact Ig chains.     

Recurrent glomerulonephritis following renal transplantation and impact on graft survival

Immunoglobulin heavy-and-light-chain amyloidosis (AHL amyloidosis) is a newly established disease entity where both the immunoglobulin heavy-chain and light-chain compose amyloid fibrils. The immunoglobulins responsible for the amyloid fibrils are generally identified by immunostaining and/or laser microdissection-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LMD-LC-MS/MS). However, both techniques do not biochemically differentiate immunoglobulins that formed amyloid fibrils from non-responsible immunoglobulins. We herein report a case of 67-year-old female patient with renal amyloidosis due to lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma secreting monoclonal immunoglobulin M (IgM)-kappa. Renal immunostaining monotypically positive for IgM-kappa and LMD-LC-MS/MS identification of mu heavy-chain and kappa light-chain were consistent with the diagnosis of AHL amyloidosis. In order to confirm that both the immunoglobulin heavy-chain and light-chain were forming amyloid fibrils, we performed LC-MS/MS of renal amyloid fibrils isolated by the traditional amyloid purification method. The additional LC-MS/MS identified kappa light-chain only without any heavy-chain component. These results were suggestive that amyloid fibrils were composed by kappa light-chain only and that the mu heavy-chain identified by immunostaining and LMD-LC-MS/MS was derived from the non-specific co-deposition of monoclonal IgM-kappa. The case was AL amyloidosis with non-amyloid forming monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition. While immunostaining and LMD-LC-MS/MS are irreplaceable techniques to classify amyloidosis, confident exclusion of the present condition should be required to diagnose AHL amyloidosis.     

Light-heavy chain deposition disease progressing to multiple myeloma

Light chain deposition disease (LCDD) and light and heavy chain deposition disease (LHCDD) are rare clinical entities that have been associated with multiple myeloma, with monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS), or without any detectable protein abnormality. Renal failure is common, the diagnosis is difficult and prolonged survival is rare. The first patient with LHCDD and MGUS who progressed to multiple myeloma after 11 years is presented. A rising level of monoclonal IgA immunoglobulin, bone marrow plasmacytosis, and the presence of multiple bone marrow lesions on magnetic resonance imaging provided the first evidence of disease evolution. When management of serious complications permits a long survival, some patients with LCDD or LHCDD will develop multiple myeloma.     

High-dose melphalan and auto-SCT in patients with monoclonal Ig deposition disease

The treatment of monoclonal Ig deposition disease (MIDD) is controversial and not standardized. We report our experience with high dose melphalan and auto-SCT (HDM/auto-SCT) in seven patients with MIDD associated with underlying Durie-Salmon stage IB multiple myeloma, including five with light chain deposition disease, one with light and heavy chain deposition disease and one with light chain crystal deposition disease. The median age of these patients was 50 years; six of them were male subjects. A monoclonal kappa-light chain was detected by Serum Free Light Chain Assay in all seven. The patients received melphalan 140 mg/m(2) followed by auto-SCT. All patients are alive and six remain in hematologic CR with a median follow up of 23.6 months (7.9-69.8 months). Renal function has improved compared to pre-HDSM/auto-SCT in five patients--two of whom had a renal transplant and became dialysis independent--remained stable in one and worsened in one leading to hemodialysis despite hematologic CR. Our results corroborate previous experience with HDM/auto-SCT in MIDD and argue in favor of kidney transplantation in patients who achieve hematologic CR after HDM/auto-SCT. Although this approach appears effective, multi-center studies are needed to define the optimal treatment for patients with MIDD.     

轻链沉积病肾损害的临床和病理分析

目的：了解轻链沉积病(LCDD)肾损害的临床和病理特征。方法：回顾性分析26例经临床和肾活检确诊的LCDD患者的临床和病理改变。结果：26例LCDD患者起病时的平均年龄为49.4岁(27—72岁)，其中男性21例，女性5例。8例确诊为多发性骨髓瘤(MM)，2例伴有浆细胞异常增生，另有16例病因不明。临床表现为急性肾衰3例(11．5％)，慢性肾衰17例(65．4％)，肾病综合征17例(65．4％)，15.4％的患者起病时即需行肾脏替代治疗。实验室检查发现血清和尿液游离κ、λ轻链的阳性率分别为56．5％和91．7％。肾脏病理改变以系膜结节样病变多见，占53．8％，2例表现为膜增生样病变、1例为膜性病变，中—重度小管间质慢性化病变为本组患者较特征性的病变(92．3％)。肾组织中以λ轻链沉积为主者占65．4％(17例)，κ轻链沉积占34．6％(9例)。18例患者行肾组织电子显微镜检查，均显示肾小球和(或)肾小管基膜内(外)侧不规则的纤细颗粒样电子致密物。结论：LCDD患者临床以肾功能不全伴肾病综合征多见，部分患者合并浆细胞增生性疾病。病理以系膜结节样伴严重的小管间质病变为特征。血清、尿液以游离λ轻链增高多见，肾组织中也以λ轻链沉积居多。     

Pseudo-nonsecretory multiple myeloma with light chain deposition disease

A diagnosis of nonsecretory myeloma was established in two patients with anemia and proteinuria on the basis of the suppression of polyclonal immunoglobulins and the increase of plasma cells in the bone marrow. No paraprotein was detected in the serum or concentrated urine of these patients. However, a plaque-forming assay of bone marrow cells showed the secretion of monoclonal immunoglobulin by the myeloma cells. Moreover, renal biopsies from both patients indicated the deposition of monoclonal light chains in the glomerular mesangium and basement membrane, as well as in the tubular basement membrane, a pattern consistent with light-chain deposition disease. These observations suggested that the secreted paraprotein disappeared rapidly as a result of enhanced catabolism or deposition in organs such as the kidney, producing severe proteinuria and chronic renal failure. The plaque-forming assay is a useful technique for the demonstration of this type of nonsecretory myeloma, pseudo-nonsecretory myeloma.     

The spectrum of monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition disease associated with immunocytic dyscrasias

Immunocytic dyscrasias may be manifested by MIDD often presenting with renal manifestations. The diagnosis is established when deposits are shown by immunopathologic methods to contain a single light-chain isotype in patients who have a monoclonal Ig in the serum or urine, altered kappa:lambda ratio in bone marrow, and/or abnormal biosynthesis of Igs in bone marrow cell cultures. The morphologic expressions of deposits are varied: fibrillar in AL, granular and punctate in LCDD, granular or crystalline in LHCDD, and crystalline in type I cryoglobulinemia.     

Nierenbeteiligung bei Paraproteinämien

Paraproteinemia denotes increased plasma levels of monoclonal immunoglobulins. Kidney paraproteinemia may lead to different disorders: amyloidosis (AL- or HA-type), light- or heavy-chain deposition disease, immunotactoid glomerulopathy, cryoglobulinemia-associated vasculitis and glomerulonephritis (type I or II), and myeloma cast nephropathy. Paraproteinemia-associated kidney diseases belong to the group of renal diseases with organized deposits. Being diagnosed in approximately 5–10% of renal biopsies, they are rather infrequent. However, due to their varied histologic presentation, they should also be considered in the differential diagnosis of numerous other renal disorders. In general, the leading symptom ? although not the only symptom ? is proteinuria. Correct diagnosis is essential for therapy and demands extensive light microscopic, (immuno)histochemical, and ultrastructural investigations. This short review discusses the most important morphologic aspects of diseases with organized deposits and emphasizes their differential diagnosis.     

Primary amyloidosis associated with a novel heavy-chain fragment (AH amyloidosis)

Primary or AL amyloidosis occurs in patients with monoclonal plasma cell-related disorders and is typically associated with the systemic deposition as amyloid fibrils of the light-chain portion of the immunoglobulin molecule. Recently, the discovery that heavy chains could be involved in amyloid formation led to the designation of this type of disease process as AH amyloidosis. We have now identified a second example of heavy chain-associated amyloidosis in a patient (MAD) who had a serum IgG monoclonal gammopathy and Bence Jones proteinuria. In this case, the renal and splenic amylold deposits consisted solely of the V_H-D-encoded portion of the heavy polypeptide chain, in contrast to the first case, where the amyloid contained an immunoglobulin component composed of the entire heavy-chain variable and third constant domains. In this respect, the chemical composition of the amyloid protein MAD differed not only from that of the first reported case of AH amyloidosis but from all other structurally abnormal components found in patients with heavy chain-associated disease. The discovery that certain forms of heavy chains, as well as light chains, can form amyloid provides further information on the chemical basis of amyloidogenicity and the diverse nature of this disease. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Multiple Myeloma Presenting with Crystal Deposition in the Bone Marrow

Monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition disease (MIDD) is characterized by the deposition of amorphous non-congophilic materials predominantly in the kidneys leading to nephrotic syndrome or renal failure. As with light chain amyloidosis. MIDD is associated with a paraproteinemia. We report a patient suffering from multiple myeloma with IgG kappa paraproteinemia and immunoglobulin deposits predominantly in the bone marrow. The deposits are both as amorphous non-congophilic materials, and in the form of crystals, an observation not reported before.     

Kidney damage in multiple myeloma and other monoclonal gammopathies

Multiple myeloma typically damages the skeleton in the form of osteolytic lesions or diffuse osteoporosis and causes a decrease in blood production. Renal insufficiency is diagnosed immediately at the onset of illness when establishing diagnosis in up to 20% of patients. Where patients suffer from an advanced form of the illness, it occurs in up to 40%. The predominant cause of damage to the kidneys is the monoclonal light chains. Most frequently, nephropathy is caused by the precipitation of light chains with the Tamm-Horsfall protein in the distal part of the loop of Henle and subsequent tubular ruptures and the creation of fibrous changes in the interstitium. Less frequently, there is clinically serious damage to tubular functions without indication of renal insufficiency. In some patients monoclonal immunoglobulin induces changes in the glomeruli. A rare type of damage is deposits of light chains in the form of AL-amyloid and subsequent nephritic syndrome. A very rare form is the deposition of monoclonal immunoglobulin in the form of amorphous matter (light-chain deposition disease) or in the form of crystals within tissue histiocytes (crystal storing histiocytosis). Both of these disorders cause renal insufficiency and less frequently nephritic syndrome such as AL amyloidosis. With timely and intensive treatment of multiple myeloma, which quickly suppresses the creation of light chains, a significant proportion of patients experience reparative changes and improved kidney function. The benefit of plasmapheresis for patients with severe kidney damage has not been confirmed by randomised studies. At the present time the first positive results are becoming available from tests of the use of pre-emptive haemodialysis with special columns that are permeable for light chains. The aim of the text is to provide information on the various forms of nephropathy whose closer analysis can reveal multiple myeloma and contribute to the timely diagnosis of the cause of the nephropathy.     

Outcomes of patients with renal monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition disease

Recent reports suggest that deep hematologic responses to chemotherapy are associated with improved renal outcomes in monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition disease (MIDD). Here we describe the long term outcomes and identify prognostic factors after first line treatment of the largest reported series of patients with MIDD. Between March 1992 and December 2014, 88 patients with MIDD were seen at Mayo Clinic, MN. Renal responses were defined using criteria used for light chain amyloidosis (AL) or those used by the IMWG. Sixty‐one (69%) patients had a GFR < 30 mL/min/1.73 m² and 16 (18%) were on renal replacement therapy at diagnosis. The interval between albuminuria or elevation in creatinine and MIDD diagnosis was 12 months suggesting a delay in diagnosis. Thirty‐seven patients (42%) had at least a hematologic CR/VGPR. Fifty‐three (60%) received an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) or proteasome inhibitor (PI)‐based treatments. Patients receiving ASCT or PI‐based therapies were more likely to achieve at least a hematologic CR/VGPR compared to those receiving other therapies: 66% vs 2%, p < 0.0001. Patients that achieved a hematologic CR were more likely to achieve a renal response (53% vs 24%, p = 0.001). Five year overall and renal survival for the entire cohort was 67% and 57%, respectively. In multivariate analyses, a baseline GFR < 20 mL/min/1.73 m² and a renal response (using AL or IMWG criteria) were independently predictive of progression to dialysis. This study confirms that deep hematologic responses, best achieved with ASCT or PI‐based therapies, are a prerequisite to achieving renal responses. Am. J. Hematol. 91:1123–1128, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

慢性特发性血小板减少性紫癜自身抗体克隆性分析

目的 了解慢性特发性血小板减少性紫癜(ITP)自身抗体克隆性生成特性。方法 采用改良的单克隆抗体免疫固定特异血小板抗原(MAIPA)法检测43例慢性ITP患者血清血小板膜糖蛋白(GP)特异性IgG抗体及其重链亚型和轻链表型,采用PCR技术分析患者淋巴细胞免疫球蛋白重链基因重排。结果 43例中16例(38％)血清中至少存在一种抗GP(GPⅡb／Ⅲa、GPⅠb、GPⅠa、GPⅣ、GPⅤ)IgG抗体。73％(8／11)的血清糖蛋白特异性自身抗体表现重链限制性,仅表达一种重链亚型;80％(16／20)的糖蛋白特异性抗体仅表达一种轻链表型;6例患者的糖蛋白特异性抗体既表现为轻链限制性又表现为重链限制性。PCR分析显示,3例存在淋巴细胞重链基因重排。结论 部分慢性ITP患者GP特异性自身抗体源于寡克隆B淋巴细胞增生。     

Immunoglobulin heavy-chain-associated amyloidosis

Immunoglobulin- or multiple myeloma-associated amyloidosis has been distinguished by the tissue deposition of Congophilic, fibrillar protein consisting of light chains or light-chain fragments (AL amyloidosis). We now report the isolation and characterization of another form of immunoglobulin-associated amyloid obtained from a patient who had extensive systemic amyloidosis and in whom the amyloid deposits consisted not of light chains but rather of an unusual form of heavy chain. This component, isolated from splenic amyloid extracts, represented an internally deleted IgG1 heavy chain as evidenced by immunochemical, electrophoretic, and amino acid sequence analyses. A comparable immunoglobulin-related monoclonal protein, consisting only of IgG heavy chains, was present in the patient's urine. Based on serologic reactivity with a battery of anti-immunoglobulin antisera, these two immunoglobulin-related components were antigenically identical; however, when compared to normal IgG, both were deficient in Fc-associated gamma-chain determinants. The structural abnormality of the amyloid gamma-chain protein was further evidenced by SDS/PAGE and immuno-blotting analyses: An unusually low molecular mass of approximately 22 kDa was found for this material vs. the expected value of approximately 55 kDa for a normal gamma heavy chain. Despite the lack of certain Fc determinants, the amyloid and urinary heavy-chain proteins expressed the IgG1 subclass allotype marker G1m(a) located on the third constant region (CH3) domain of the internally deleted IgG1 heavy chains. That the amyloid protein contained an intact CH3 domain was established through amino acid sequence analyses of cyanogen bromide fragments and peptides generated by a lysine-specific protease. These studies also revealed that the gamma-chain amyloid protein contained the complete heavy-chain variable (VH) domain [including the diversity (DH) and joining (JH) segments] that was contiguous with the CH3 domain. The low molecular mass of the protein resulted from the total absence of the first (CH1), hinge, and second (CH2) heavy-chain constant regions. Such extensive CH deletions and the presence of a complete VH distinguish this amyloid-associated heavy chain from all other heretofore characterized gamma-heavy-chain disease proteins. This heavy-chain-related form of immunoglobulin-associated amyloidosis is tentatively designated AH amyloidosis.     

Monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance: Early diagnosis is key

Monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance is a clinical–pathological entity grouping renal disorders secondary to the secretion of a monoclonal immunoglobulin synthesized by a B-cell-derived clone and/or plasma cells in a patient with no diagnostic criteria for multiple myeloma. This term applies to a concept recently introduced owing to the need to differentiate this entity from monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, given the negative prognostic impact of its high morbidity and mortality resulting from both renal and systemic involvement, occasionally even progressing to advanced chronic kidney disease. The renal damage occurs via both direct pathogenic mechanisms, with the deposition of the monoclonal protein in different renal structures, as well as indirect mechanisms, acting as an autoantibody provoking dysregulation of the alternative complement pathway. The detection of this monoclonal protein and an early hematologic study are essential, as is the need for a kidney biopsy to establish the associated nephropathological diagnosis. Consequently, this then leads to the start of specific hematologic treatment to detain the production of the monoclonal protein and minimize renal and systemic injury.     

Immunoglobulin D amyloidosis: a distinct entity

IgD monoclonal gammopathies are uncommon. They are seen rarely as a monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and are present in 1%-2% of patients with multiple myeloma. In light-chain amyloidosis, IgD monoclonal proteins are found in ap-proximately 1% of patients. When an IgD monoclonal protein is found, amyloidosis is often omitted from the differential diagnosis. In the present study, we reviewed the natural history of IgD-associated amyloidosis among 53 patients seen over 41 years. The distribution of clinical syndromes suggests that these patients have a lower frequency of renal and cardiac involvement. The overall survival of these patients does not appear to be different from that of patients who have light-chain amyloidosis associated with another monoclonal protein.     

Multiple myeloma presented as acute interstitial nephritis and rheumatoid arthritis-like polyarthritis

Acute interstitial nephritis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or RA-like polyarthritis are among the very rare paraneoplastic manifestations of multiple myeloma (MM). A 47-year-old man with acute renal failure due to interstitial nephritis was admitted to our university hospital and successfully treated with corticosteroid. He later developed a symmetric distal polyarthritis with morning stiffness mimicking RA. On follow-up, the patient had a rise in serum creatinine, hypercalcemia, anemia, and a monoclonal spike (Bence Jones protein) on the urine protein electrophoresis. Bone marrow biopsy demonstrated a diffuse neoplastic plasma cell infiltration. Diagnosis of MM was made and the patient received chemotherapy. After four-course chemotherapy, the patient's articular manifestations resolved, urine monoclonal spike disappeared, and serum creatinine returned to a near normal level. We hypothesize that in this case, immunologic hypersensitivity reactions to the light-chain molecules or other tumoral antigens deposited within the kidney or joint spaces, in the context of MM cytokine milieu may have resulted in this unusual presentation. Ultimately, clinicians and pathologists should consider MM in the differential diagnosis of the acute interstitial nephritis and RA-like polyarthritis.     

Pathogenic potential of human monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains: relationship of in vitro aggregation to in vivo organ deposition.

The deposition of certain Bence Jones proteins as tubular casts, basement membrane precipitates, or amyloid fibrils results in the human light-chain-associated renal and systemic diseases--myeloma (cast) nephropathy, light-chain deposition disease, and immunocyte-derived (primary or AL) amyloidosis. To determine if light-chain nephrotoxicity or amyloidogenicity is related to the propensity of these components to form high molecular weight aggregates under physiological conditions, we used a size-exclusion chromatographic system to study 40 different Bence Jones proteins. Each samples was tested over a wide range of protein concentration in three different buffers varying in pH, osmolality, and the presence or absence of low concentrations of urea. Thirty-three of the 35 proteins found clinically and/or experimentally to form in vivo pathologic light-chain deposits were shown to undergo high-order self-association and form high molecular weight aggregates. In contrast, of five nonpathologic proteins, one showed polymerization under the chromatographic conditions used. The correlation between the in vivo results achieved by size-exclusion chromatography and that found in vivo provides (i) a rapid diagnostic method to identify potential nephrotoxic or amyloidogenic Bence Jones proteins and (ii) an experimental means to gain new insight into the physicochemical basis of light-chain aggregation and the treatment of those invariably fatal disorders associated with pathologic light-chain deposition.     

Airway structural alterations selectively associated with severe asthma

To identify airway pathologic abnormalities selectively associated with severe asthma, we examined 10 control subjects, 10 patients with intermittent asthma, 15 patients with mild-to-moderate persistent asthma, 15 patients with severe persistent asthma, and 10 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Bronchial biopsies were assessed for epithelial integrity; subepithelial basement membrane (SBM) thickness; collagen type III deposition; eosinophil, neutrophil, and fibroblast numbers; mucous gland and airway smooth muscle (ASM) areas; SBM-ASM distance; ASM hypertrophy (increased cell size); and the expression of the contractile proteins alpha-actin, smooth muscle myosin heavy-chain isoforms, myosin light-chain kinase, and the phosphorylated form of the regulatory light chain of myosin. Neither mucosal eosinophilia nor neutrophilia, epithelial damage, or SBM thickness reflected asthma severity. In contrast, higher numbers of fibroblasts (p < 0.001), an increase in collagen type III deposition (p < 0.020), larger mucous gland (p < 0.040) and ASM (p < 0.001) areas, augmented ASM cell size (p < 0.001), and myosin light-chain kinase expression (p < 0.005) distinguished patients with severe persistent asthma from patients with milder disease or with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Stepwise multivariate regression analysis established that fibroblast numbers and ASM cell size were negatively associated with prebronchodilator and postbronchodilator FEV1 values in patients with asthma. We conclude that fibroblast accumulation and ASM hypertrophy in proximal airways are selective determinants of severe persistent asthma.