kappa light chains in urine quantitative

The immunoglobulin molecule consists of two types of chains It contains two heavy chains and two light chains: kappa or lambda. The kappa and lambda light chains are produced by plasma cells plasmatic cells. The light chains are produced in excess of the to the heavy chains, so their excess is released into the serum in the form of free kappa and lambda light chains. Free light chains are filtered in the glomeruli and metabolized in the proximal tubules of the nephron. Kidney damage increases the half-life of light chains from 2-6 hours to 2-3 days An increase in the concentration of free light chains in the urine is associated with The progression of a disease causing excess production of chains (e.g., multiple myeloma) and the degree of kidney damage. Determination of quantification of kappa and labda light chains in urine replaces the classic Bence- Jones protein determination in many clinical cases.