monoclonal gammopathy

monoclonal gammopathy.

See gammopathy.

---

gammopathy

abnormal proliferation of the B lymphocytes resulting in abnormal levels of immunoglobulin production; the gammopathies include multiple myeloma, macroglobulinemia and Hodgkin's disease. Called also gammaglobulinopathy.

---

monoclonal gammopathy

an increased production of one type of immunoglobulin by a single clone of cells. The abnormal protein produced is called paraprotein or M component and may be composed of whole immunoglobulin molecules or subunits, light-chains (Bence Jones proteins) or heavy-chains. Occurs in myelomas, lymphoproliferative neoplasms, and occasionally chronic inflammatory or immune-mediated diseases. Greatly elevated serum levels of protein may result in a hyperviscosity syndrome.

polyclonal gammopathy

a hypergammaglobulinemia resulting from an increased production of several different immunoglobulins and usually attributable to persistent, high level exposure to antigens; occur in a wide variety of infectious, inflammatory, and immune-mediated diseases. Examples in animals are feline infectious peritonitis, canine ehrlichiosis, Aleutian mink disease and equine infectious anemia.

---

monoclonal

derived from a single cell; pertaining to a single clone.

---

monoclonal antibodies

identical immunoglobulin molecules formed by a single clone of plasma cells; may occur naturally in plasma cell myelomas or in vitro by the fusion of an antibody producing B lymphocyte with a non-antibody-producing myeloma B cell. The fused heterokaryon has the properties of immortality and production of a monoclonal antibody. For the most part, monoclonal antibodies are made in mouse systems.

monoclonal gammopathy

see monoclonal gammopathy.

---

monoclonal gammopathy

A condition characterized by the clonal proliferation of immunoglobulin-producing B cells

Monoclonal gammopathy types

Malignant

Multiple myeloma

Variants of multiple myeoloma

• Solitary plasmacytoma of bone

• Extramedullary plasmacytoma

• Plasma cell leukemia

• Non-secretory myeloma

Lymphoproliferative disorders

• Waldenström's macroglobulinemia

• Lymphoma

Heavy chain disease (γ, α, μ)

Amyloidosis

Of undetermined significance

Benign (IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD, or light chains)

Associated neoplasms that rarely produce monoclonal proteins

Biclonal gammopathies