Elevated free chains in urine

Posted by Rade @rade, May 3 9:31am

Hello,
I have celiac disease and gastroenterologist recommend me to go to endocrinologist as well. Now discovered osteopenia and it was prescribed vitamin D and calcium. I am male in 40s, athlete physical condition, and normal weight and I am on free-gluten food for about 2 years.
Endocrinologist also discovered elevated free chains in urine, while blood test is normal. Here are my last blood/urine results:
proteins in serum total 70 g/L (66 - 81)
IgA 1.5 g/L (0.7 - 4)
IgG 10 g/L (7 - 16)
IgM 2.7 g/L (0.4 - 2.3)
Electrophoresis of serum proteins is without any abnormality, all parameters are inside limits. Also, it was not found any M imunoglobine in serum, neither in urine.
However, electroforesis of urine sample is found with abnormalities. Results are:
Free kappa chain 61.1 mg/L (< 25.8)
Free lambda chain 23.6 mg/L (< 11.3)
Kappa/lambda ratio 2.59 (1.4 - 6.2)
I have repeated alectroforesis of urine once more (month ago) and results were pretty similar to described above.
Endocrinologist send me to hematologist now. Meantime, when I am waiting answer from hematologist, would be appreciated if I can take some advice what can be the reason of abnormalities found in urine and which further medical exams I can expect?

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Since you have both kappa and lamda elevated with normal ratio, this can occur in inflammation and they may want to do bloodwork for inflammatory conditions such as autoimmune disorders. Occasionally monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)involves kappa and lambda both. This is likely to require only blood monitoring for the time being.

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PS the free light chains show up in urine before blood so this indicates it’s being caught very early.

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@slkanowitz

Since you have both kappa and lamda elevated with normal ratio, this can occur in inflammation and they may want to do bloodwork for inflammatory conditions such as autoimmune disorders. Occasionally monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)involves kappa and lambda both. This is likely to require only blood monitoring for the time being.

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Many thanks on answer.
Seems I can expect additional blood tests (and maybe tests from samples taken from bone marrow).

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Just received answer from hematologist that don't need to worry because these elevated results in urine can be cause of some other diseases as well, not necessary related to blood abnormalities. I have to repeat similar testings (and some additional) for 6 months and after that period hematologist will conclude if I really need bone marrow testing.
Just wondering if I have some trouble with kidneys maybe? Can some kidney disease (or maybe even some urinary tract infection) be the reason of elevated free chains in urine?

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I’m glad you have spoken to your hematologist. Stay after him/her until you get a definitive answer as to etiology. There are so many variables to consider and each of us has a unique presentation, it seems.
My hematologist/oncologist is fond of saying, “might be something, might be nothing.” Then he does enough testing to be able to say what it is, a lot of which is to “rule out” one thing or the other. It’s a systematic process which takes some time and patience is not my forte.
It sounds like you are doing a good job of staying after it.
Have you asked if your doc recommends a urology consultation?

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Patty, thanks on answer. I had examination by a urologist previous year. It was not found any serious disease. Only that I have inclination towards building small stones in kidneys which I solved by taking medicament Rowatinex and after that stones (plenty stones with sizes up to 3-4 mm) according last year exam were successfully dissolved and seems they disappeared.
Presently I am taking 1200 mg of calcium as prescribed by endocrinologist (because of lower bone density - osteopenia) and I am planning to go to urologist in autumn months just to make ultrasound of kidneys again (and also normal yearly exam of genital area).

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@rade sounds like you are getting a comprehensive workup. Some doctors don’t want to diagnose MGUS without a bone marrow biopsy. There is some data which suggests that it may not be necessary if your blood analysis doesn’t meet the threshold of concern.
It’s a good question for your next appointment to ask his or her thinking about what that threshold might be and if the diagnosis is MGUS.

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You’re wondering if kidney disease is causing the FLC to be in urine. Actually the FLC can cause kidney disease if levels get quite high ( much higher than yours). FLC are proteins that can “clog up” the tiny capillaries in kidney over time, but this process is associated with more severe disease. Your kidney function will be monitored along with the FLC ( creatinine and eGFR) blood tests. I understand your anxiety over this but encourage you to not get ahead of where you’re at. This is most likely to not progress to anything harmful. I have put my own similar situation on the back burner and rarely think about it.

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@slkanowitz

You’re wondering if kidney disease is causing the FLC to be in urine. Actually the FLC can cause kidney disease if levels get quite high ( much higher than yours). FLC are proteins that can “clog up” the tiny capillaries in kidney over time, but this process is associated with more severe disease. Your kidney function will be monitored along with the FLC ( creatinine and eGFR) blood tests. I understand your anxiety over this but encourage you to not get ahead of where you’re at. This is most likely to not progress to anything harmful. I have put my own similar situation on the back burner and rarely think about it.

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Thanks on answer. Yes, you are correct regarding proposed further blood analysis (besides reapeated blood/urine tests I have to do additionally creatinine, eGFR, sedimentation, trombocytes and CRP), . Hematologist proposed that for next 6 months (not earlier), so probably it is nothing too suspicious, for now.

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