Surface immunoglobulins in chronic lymphatic leukaemia, macroglobulinaemia and myelomatosis

The direct method of immunofluorescence was applied for the detection of surface immunoglobulins (Ig) on lymphocytes, obtained from bone marrow and peripheral blood, especially from patients with paraproteinaemia. The results in chronic lymphatic leukaemia (CLL), in the macroglobulinaemia of Waldenström (MW), and in multiple myeloma (MM) show three different patterns as far as the relationship between cytoplasmic and membrane Ig is concerned. In CLL a monoclonal proliferation of cells with surface Ig was found, but the percentage of cells with cytoplasmic fluorescence was normal. In MW the further differentiation in Ig-secreting cells seems to be intact. In MM the percentage of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood with membrane-bound Ig was within normal limits or decreased.