Serum syndecan-1 was investigated in 189 patients with newly diagnosed monoclonal proteinemia [the diagnoses were multiple myeloma (66), monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance (MGUS; n=54), provisional MGUS (no bone marrow examination performed; n=69)] and 36 controls. Syndecan-1 levels ranged widely between all diagnostic categories and were of limited discriminatory value (sensi...

BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of free light chain (FLC) analysis in comparison to serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) for detecting M-proteinemia. METHODS A total of 553 consecutive patients for whom evaluation of M-proteinemia was requested were included in this study. For all patients, serum FLC analysis and SPE followed by pentavalent immunofixation ...

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis. We report a fatal case of ECD with extensive cardiac involvement associated with a marginal zone lymphoma and monoclonal proteinemia in a young man. This is the first reported association of ECD with a monoclonal gammopathy or a lymphoma.

The term "Bence-Jones protein" refers to an ill-defined group of proteins having a molecular weight of approximately 37,000 (1), and the characteristic properties of precipitating out of solution when warmed to 45 to 58° C. and of redissolving completely or partially on boiling. This peculiar behavior on heating has long served as a useful test for Bence-Jones proteins in the urine of patients ...

Aim: To evaluate the factors influencing fascial wound dehiscence after midline laparotomy in the patients of perforation peritonitis with an emphasis on measurement of “intra-abdominal” pressure (IAP) and fascial transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). Methods: Hundred eligible adult patients with the diagnosis of perforation peritonitis who underwent emergency exploratory laparotomy were ...