Kappa light chains: What does this mean?

I've had IgA kappa light chain MGUS for 8 years (I'm 70). My current kappa is about 300 and kappa/lambda 29. Your bloodwork may also deficient in B12, which is one factor in iron deficient anemia and gastrointestinal syndromes/diseases. Progression of MGUS to SMM (smoldering multiple myeloma) or MM is about 1% each year, so it stays at MGUS and asymptomatic for most people. It is good to get the flood of doctors and tests done up front so there is more info on potential causes/fixes. It would also be useful to check with a gastroenterologist because celiac disease, colitis, and other GI problems can also impact iron absorption/use. I have celiac and colitis, which are controlled by diet (it is good to keep a food journal to see if you have any food intolerances). https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/anemia/iron-deficiency-anemia Here are links to MGUS: https://www.myeloma.org/multiple-myeloma-anemia https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3904304/

Thank you for your response. I will definitely be discussing all of this with my hematologist. He did bloodwork for celiac disease and it was normal. Cat scan is what found the kidney stones. When he saw me on 10/22/24 I had virtually no iron, even after taking iron supplements for a month. Definitely going to stay on top of this.

@ryder23, any update after discussing the results of your bloodwork with your hematologist?

My kappa number’s aren’t high enough to be concerned about at this time. If they get up to 50 then it is a problem

I have iron deficiency anemia so now hematologist sending me for an endoscopy

Thanks for asking😀👍

@ryder23
In regard to your findings, an elevated Kappa can be seen in other conditions such as chronic kidney disease, autoimmune diseases and others. Were you just diagnosed with anemia or has this been an ongoing issue? I am sure your hematologist will follow you closely to look for any changes related to your kappa level. I was diagnosed IgM kappa MGUS 13 years ago due to a neuropathy. Initially my numbers and ratio were normal without an M spike until last year when they began an upward turn. I now have labs every six months instead of annually.

I was just diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia and doctor will be monitoring my bloodwork.

My lab normal range goes up to 26.3. Labs vary slightly on normal ranges, but it seems you might be worrying needlessly. I would get the iron deficiency diagnosed and treated and forget about the kappa light chains. Light chains are part of the immune globulins or antibodies that protect you from infections.

I'm a 57 year old male. My Kappa Free Light Chain is 2.4, the Ratio is 1.74 and my Iron is High 453. Should I be overly concerned?