Light chain ratios of serum immunoglobulins in disease

✍ Scribed by C.W.K. Lam; S.H. Chui; N.W.Y. Leung; E.K.M. Li; K.N. Lai

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1991
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 434 KB
• Volume: 24
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0009-9120
• DOI: 10.1016/0009-9120(91)80021-t

✦ Synopsis

We have determined the individual kappa (K)/lambda (k) ratios of serum IgG, IgA, and IgM in normal subjects and patients with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, hepatic cirrhosis and IgA nephropathy --40 in each group. Serum samples were first screened by agarose electrophoresis to exclude paraproteinaemia. Concentrations of IgG, IgA, and IgM were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The K and ~. chain concentrations of each immunoglobulin class were assayed by an ELISA method first developed by us for the determination of K/k ratios. Our results showed that K/X ratios of serum IgA and IgM were significantly different from that of IgG in normal subjects and the 4 groups of patients studied (p < 0.01). The K/k ratios of individual immunoglobulins in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and liver cirrhosis were similar to those of normal subjects. However, patients with IgA nephropathy displayed a distinctly lower IgA ~ ratio, suggesting a unique antibody response in the immunopathogenesis of this disease.