Hello Tim, In MGUS cases we perform also staining for lambda/kappa/CD138 and look at plasma cells clonality. In most cases one can see that there are both normal PC and monoclonal population present , which results in s.c. clonal excess i.e. pathological kappa/lambda ratio. The monoclonal population can be seen in 90% of MGUS cases we have studied and I would disagree with the statement that normal, polyclonal plama cells really predominate. The difference with myeloma would be that the normal plasma cells are not there any more. Kind regards Anna At 08:24 2001-10-10 -0400, you wrote: >In MGUS, plasma cells appear polytypic for cytoplasmic kappa and lambda light chain by immunophenotype, with rare exception. There is a monoclonal plasma cell population, which is responsible for the monoclonal gammopathy, but the polyclonal plasma cells predominate. MGUS with monoclonal plasma cells warrants close follow-up. Plasma cells appear monoclonal in smoldering myeloma, multiple myeloma, primary amyloidosis and plasmacytoid lymphomas. > >Tim Singleton, MD >William Beaumont Hospital >Royal Oak, MI > Anna Porwit Hematopathology Lab. Department of Pathology, Radiumhemmet Karolinska Hospital, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden Anja.Porwit@ks.se tel.:+46-851774518 fax.:+46-851775843
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