Comparative analysis of immunoelectrophoresis (IEF) and several other laboratory methods used in the diagnosis of protein M showed that IEF is a method of choice in the immunological characterization of this protein, with the exception of IgM macroglobulin where the interpretation of the heavy chain and particularly of the light chain give better results in dilution immunodiffusion or immunochromatography. When the results are uncertain the simplest additional method to IEF seems to be dilution immunodiffusion and the best method is isolation of the observed protein by column chromatography and repeated determination of purified protein by IEF. With all these methods the lambda type of protein M is more difficult to determine than the kappa type.

Chromatography, DEAE-Cellulose↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor on granulocytopenia induced by cytotoxic chemotherapy in patients with multiple myeloma.

15 multiple myeloma patients with severe granulocytopenia after chemotherapy were treated with recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (Neupogen; Roche). Granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) was given s.c. usually in a dose of 5 micrograms/kg for 5-14 (median:8) days. In all cases the increase in ANC was observed; one day after completing therapy the ANC ranged from 2.3 to 19.7 (mean: 10.3) x 10(9)/l. In 3 cases the ANC peak appeared during first (2-4) days of treatment, in one- on 14-th day after 10-day unsuccesful treatment. Generally, ANCs rapidly decreased after discontinuation of treatment to the values observed prior to the last chemotherapy. Both adverse events present in 9 patients and changes in monitored blood biochemistry components were moderate and reversible. In 3 cases symptoms of myeloma progression occurred. The study showed that G-CSF is an efficient and well tolerated drug, but also demonstrated its short-term action.

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