Significance of oligoclonal bands after stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma cases
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Published on: February 16, 2024
Ai-Jun Liu1, Hong Zong, Guang-Zhong Yang
1Department of Hematology, Chao Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Objective:
To determine the characteristics of oligoclonal bands that are frequently detected by serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) and immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) after stem cell transplantation.
Methods:
We retrospectively analyzed 56 patients with multiple myeloma (MM) undergoing transplantation, and standard immunofixation electrophoresis was used to identify and quantify paraproteins.
Results:
The median follow-up was 35 months (range, 10-76 months) and 21 patients relapsed. Twelve (25.0%) demonstrated oligoclonal bands after a median time 1.4 months (range, 1-3 months), with a median duration of 5.8 months (range, 1-15 months). The majority patients with oligoclonal bands had normal quantities of immunoglobulins and the one year event free survival (EFS) was 92%, even higher than for patients without OBs (P=0.002).
Conclusion:
Oligoclonal bands frequent develop post-transplantation in MM cases. In the vast majority of patients, they may not represent relapsed disease, and more likely represent a transient phenomenon representing recovery of impaired immunoglobulin production.
