The Correlation between the Serum Level of Free Light Chain Ratio and Prognostic Factors among the Patients with Lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the most common cancer in the world. This study aimed to determine the correlation between the serum level of free light chain ratio and age, and subtype and stage of the disease.
In a cross-sectional study, 59 patients with lymphoma who presented to Seyyed-al-Shohada hospital, Isfahan, Iran, were investigated. Subtype and stage of disease were specified via clinical exam and histologic and radiologic studies. Prognostic laboratory factors such as B2-microglobulin (B2MG), albumin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and (ESR), in addition to serum free light chain (kappa and lambda) using nephelometry method were measured. The data were analyzed using SPSS software
Findings: There was no relationship between the mean serum level of free light chains and B2-microglobulin (P = 0.193, r = 0.173, and P = 0.170, r = 0.181 for lambda and kappa chains, respectively). Mean serum level of lambda chain was higher among the patients with bone marrow involvement and B-symptoms (fever, night sweats, and weight loss) (P = 0.021), but the mean serum level of albumin was lower among these patients (P = 0.025).
In patients with bone marrow involvement and presence of B-symptoms, only serum lambda levels were higher than those without it. There were no correlation between the level of serum free light chain ratio and age, and subtype and stage of disease.