Increased urinary free immunoglobulin light chain excretion in patients with multiple sclerosis

J Neuroimmunol. 2010 Mar 30;220(1-2):99-103. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2010.01.012. Epub 2010 Feb 19.

Abstract

Background: Plasma and B cells are implicated in multiple sclerosis (MS) and produce free light chains (FLC) that are excreted in urine.

Objective: To confirm that demyelinating diseases (DD) cause increased urinary FLCs.

Method: Urinary FLC in 50 patients with DD were compared to 20 patients with posterior uveitis (PU), 19 with AIDS, 34 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 19 normal controls (NC).

Result: Subjects with DD, PU, RA and AIDS have higher urinary FLCs than NC (p<0.01). Urinary FLCs did not correlate with gadolinium-enhancing lesions on MRI.

Conclusions: Urinary FLCs are raised in DD. Further studies are required to see if they correlate with disease activity.

MeSH terms

  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / immunology
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / urine
  • Adult
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / immunology
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / physiopathology
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / urine
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Biomarkers / urine
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Light Chains / analysis
  • Immunoglobulin Light Chains / urine*
  • Immunoglobulins / metabolism
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis / immunology*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / physiopathology
  • Multiple Sclerosis / urine*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Up-Regulation / immunology*
  • Uveitis, Posterior / immunology
  • Uveitis, Posterior / physiopathology
  • Uveitis, Posterior / urine

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Immunoglobulin Light Chains
  • Immunoglobulins