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Editor-in-chief
Maria Stella Graziani

Deputy Director
Martina Zaninotto

Associate Editors
Ferruccio Ceriotti
Davide Giavarina
Bruna Lo Sasso
Giampaolo Merlini
Martina Montagnana
Andrea Mosca
Paola Pezzati
Rossella Tomaiuolo
Matteo Vidali

International Advisory Board Khosrow Adeli Canada
Sergio Bernardini Italy
Marcello Ciaccio Italy
Eleftherios Diamandis Canada
Philippe Gillery France
Kjell Grankvist Sweden
Hans Jacobs The Netherlands
Eric Kilpatrick UK
Magdalena Krintus Poland
Giuseppe Lippi Italy
Mario Plebani Italy
Sverre Sandberg Norway
Ana-Maria Simundic Croatia
Tommaso Trenti Italy
Cas Weykamp The Netherlands
Maria Willrich USA
Paul Yip Canada

Publisher
Biomedia srl
Via L. Temolo 4, 20126 Milano

Responsible Editor
Giuseppe Agosta

Editorial Secretary
Andrea di Bello
Biomedia srl
Via L. Temolo 4, 20126 Milano
Tel. 0245498282
email: biochimica.clinica@sibioc.it

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ISSN print: 0393 – 0564
ISSN digital: 0392- 7091

BC: Articoli scritti da L. Paolini

Serum free light chain assays for monitoring response to treatment in a patient with pharmacoresistant light chain multiple myeloma

L. Paolini \| G. Di Noto \| D. Ricotta \|
<p>We describe the case of a 78 year old man admitted to the Nephrology ward with strangury. Laboratory tests showed proteinuria with preserved renal function. Serum and urine immunofixation showed a faint monoclonal <span style="font-family: symbol;">l</span> band, while serum free light chain (FLC) assays (Freelite, The Binding Site) resulted in an abnormal <span style="font-family: symbol;">k</span>/<span style="font-family: symbol;">l</span> ratio, confirming the presence of a <span style="font-family: symbol;">l</span>FLC monoclonal component. After bone marrow examination, the diagnosis was stage IIA<span style="font-family: symbol;"> l</span> light chain multiple myeloma. The patient started bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone treatment. In the following days, <span style="font-family: symbol;">l</span> FLC concentrations still remained elevated indicating therapy failure. A week later, the patient became anuric and laboratory tests showed a pattern of acute renal failure and increased serum<span style="font-family: symbol;"> l</span> FLC concentrations. The patient started a new treatment with bicarbonate, mannitol and dexamethasone, but therapy was not effective again and <span><span style="font-family: symbol;">l</span></span><span> </span>FLC concentrations resulted persistently high and associated with anury. Clinicians decided to suspend pharmacological therapy and to dialyze the patient. FLC assay was performed every two hours to monitor FLC removal. After six sessions of hemodialysis, <span style="font-family: symbol;">l</span> FLC concentrations decreased, diuresis was restored and renal function improved. Myeloma treatment was re-initiated with steroids and, after kidney recovery, dialysis was suspended. In this case, FLC assays helped to confirm myeloma suspicion, to define the most effective therapy and to assess the response to treatment.</p>
Biochimica Clinica ; 38(5) 389-391 Casi clinici - Case report