Mayo Clinic researchers have identified an immune system deficiencywhose presence shows someone is up to four times likelier to diethan a person without it. The glitch involves an antibody moleculecalled a free light chain; people whose immune systems produce toomuch of the molecule are far more likely to die of alife-threatening illness such as cancer , diabetes and cardiac and respiratory disease than those whose bodies makenormal levels. The study is published in the June issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Researchers studied blood samples from nearly 16,000 people 50 andolder enrolled in a population-based study of plasma cell disordersin Olmsted County, Minn. They found that those who had the highestlevel of free light chains - the top 10 percent - were about fourtimes more at risk of dying than those with lower levels. Evenafter accounting for differences in age, gender and kidneyfunction, the risk of death was roughly twice as high. The study suggests that high levels of free light chains aremarkers of increased immune system response to infection,inflammation or some other serious disorders, says lead researcherVincent Rajkumar, M.D., a Mayo Clinic hematologist. Researchers have known that high levels of free light chains areassociated with increased risk of death among patients with plasmadisorders, such as lymphomas and other blood cancers, but this is the first study to find thathigh levels of light chains are associated with increased mortalityin the general population. Free light chain levels can be measuredby using a serum free light chain assay, a simple blood test. Thistest is often used to monitor light chain levels in patients withplasma disorders such as myeloma to gauge how well they are responding to treatment. However, Dr. Rajkumar cautions against administering this test withthe intent of gauging one's risk of death. "We do not recommend this test as a screening test, because it willonly cause alarm," Dr. Rajkumar says. "We do not know why thismarker is associated with higher rates of death. We do not have away of turning things around. Therefore, I would urge caution inusing this test until we figure out what to do about it and whatthese results mean." Plasma cells are white blood cells that produce large amounts ofantibodies and are key to fighting off infection. The antibodiesare comprised of two different types of molecules tightly joined toeach other: heavy chains and light chains. Most people produce atleast a slightly excess amount of light chains that can be detectedin the blood in the "free" state, unbound to heavy chains. Freelight chains are not usually a threat to health, but excess levelsserve as a marker of underlying immune system stimulation, kidneyfailure or plasma cell disorders such as myeloma. Next steps for researchers include identifying the precisemechanisms by which excess free light chains are associated with ahigher likelihood of death and determining if specific diagnosticor treatment options need to be pursued. Additional References Citations. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as China Animal Rfid Tags , Rfid Reader Writer for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Animal Rfid Tags.
Related Articles -
China Animal Rfid Tags, Rfid Reader Writer,
|