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Updated: Jun 24, 2026
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Digital Home-Monitoring of Patients after Kidney Transplantation: The MACCS Platform
Published on: April 12, 2021
Light chains: heavy burden in kidney transplantation.
Eliot C Heher1, Thomas R Spitzer, Nelson B Goes
1Division of Nephrology and Transplantation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA. eheher@partners.org
Transplantation
|April 9, 2009
Summary
Plasma cell dyscrasias can cause kidney disease. New treatments and assays improve management, allowing kidney transplantation for select patients and successful treatment of recurrent or new monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Hematology
- Oncology
Background:
- Plasma cell dyscrasias are cancers linked to kidney disease via monoclonal immunoglobulin (Ig) production.
- Advances include free light chain assays, targeted therapies, and stem-cell transplantation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advances in managing plasma cell dyscrasias and their renal complications.
- To discuss the role of kidney transplantation in selected patients.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on plasma cell dyscrasias and kidney disease.
- Discussion of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
- Analysis of kidney transplant outcomes in patients with monoclonal Ig-related kidney disease.
Main Results:
- New diagnostic tools and targeted therapies enhance plasma cell dyscrasia management.
- Kidney transplantation is a viable option for well-controlled patients.
- Recurrent or de novo monoclonal Ig deposition in kidney allografts can be identified and treated.
Conclusions:
- Advances in plasma cell dyscrasia treatment offer improved outcomes for patients with kidney disease.
- Careful patient selection and management allow for successful kidney transplantation.
- Effective strategies exist to manage monoclonal Ig deposition in kidney transplant recipients.
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