The basic study on kappa-lambda imaging by delta-curve for the detection of
a monoclonal B-cell population in the peripheral blood
M Nakano, S Kuge, S Kuwabara, M Yaguchi, Y Kawanishi, K Kodama, T Akiya and K Toyama
Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Medical College, Japan.
Recently, kappa-lambda analysis with the "D" value was developed by Ault to
detect a minor population of malignant B cells in peripheral blood. This
analysis is based on the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, and the D value is
calculated by a flowcytometer and a computer. We have recently devised a
more sensitive parameter for the kappa-lambda analysis than the D value
called the delta-curve (delta c); the delta c applies the same principle as
that of the D value. Mixing experiments with kappa- type and lambda-type
chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells revealed that the delta c could not only
detect a minor population of malignant kappa- B cells, but also that of
malignant lambda-B cells using more sensitivity than the D value. A total
of 49 blood samples obtained from 27 patients with various B-cell
malignancies were investigated. D values were abnormal in 37% of all
samples, while abnormal patterns of the delta c were recognized in 71%. On
the other hand, 59% of samples obtained from the patients with B-cell
lymphoma in aleukemic phase showed abnormal delta c, whereas D values
exceeded the upper limit of the normal value in only 15% of the samples. It
was suggested that the delta c could detect 3% to 7% of malignant B cells
that were mixed with a population of normal lymphocytes.
Volume 72,
Issue 5,
pp. 1461-1466,
11/01/1988
Copyright © 1988 by The American Society of Hematology
