Document details

Multiple myeloma. An unusual case.

Author(s): Silva, F; Serviço 2 Medicina, Hospital de Curry Cabral, Lisboa. cv logo 1 ; Veiga, M Z cv logo 2 ; Viegas, J cv logo 3 ; Arranhado, E cv logo 4

Date: 1970

Origin: Acta Médica Portuguesa


Description
We describe the case of a 75 year old male patient, hospitalized because of sudden paraplegia. The radiological tests performed, revealed degenerative changes of the entire vertebral spine, osteolytic lesions of the seventh cervical and first two thoracic vertebrae, and lacunar lesions of the others. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate, total proteins and its electrophoretic study, as well as quantification of serum immunoglobulins were found to be normal. Regardless of these results, we continued our investigation in order to diagnose or exclude multiple myeloma (MM), which was confirmed by serum and urinary immunoelectrophoresis, that revealed monoclonal gammopathy IgG, K with low value of serum IgG and very high urinary values of Bence Jones K, and by the histological analysis of the necropsy material. In conclusion, we report a case where the probability of an alteration of the controlling immunological mechanisms must be considered. We suggest that there is a heavy chain suppression of the malignant clone, that would explain its very low value in peripheral blood. These findings associated to the absence of light chains in serum, have lead to a particular laboratorial expression of this myeloma. We describe the case of a 75 year old male patient, hospitalized because of sudden paraplegia. The radiological tests performed, revealed degenerative changes of the entire vertebral spine, osteolytic lesions of the seventh cervical and first two thoracic vertebrae, and lacunar lesions of the others. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate, total proteins and its electrophoretic study, as well as quantification of serum immunoglobulins were found to be normal. Regardless of these results, we continued our investigation in order to diagnose or exclude multiple myeloma (MM), which was confirmed by serum and urinary immunoelectrophoresis, that revealed monoclonal gammopathy IgG, K with low value of serum IgG and very high urinary values of Bence Jones K, and by the histological analysis of the necropsy material. In conclusion, we report a case where the probability of an alteration of the controlling immunological mechanisms must be considered. We suggest that there is a heavy chain suppression of the malignant clone, that would explain its very low value in peripheral blood. These findings associated to the absence of light chains in serum, have lead to a particular laboratorial expression of this myeloma.
Document Type Article
Language Portuguese
delicious logo  facebook logo  linkedin logo  twitter logo 
degois logo
mendeley logo

Related documents



    Financiadores do RCAAP

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia Universidade do Minho   Governo Português Ministério da Educação e Ciência Programa Operacional da Sociedade do Conhecimento EU