Background: Immunoglobulin D (IgD) multiple myeloma (MM) is a rare subtype of MM and commonly occurs in younger subjects but at a later stage of the International Staging System (ISS) when admitted. As a special type of IgD myeloma, IgD-λ/λ biclonal MM is rarer. Its serum protein electrophoresis and serum immuno-fixation electrophoresis (IFE) might find no anomalies even if the bone marrow (BM) examination is performed. Thus, it is easy to miss the diagnosis.
Case summary: A 62-year-old man diagnosed as IgD-λ/λ myeloma (ISS stage III) was admitted with fatigue and weight loss. The physical examination suggested an anemic face, a few moist rales at the left lung base, and mild concave edema in both lower extremities. Laboratory examinations showed the elevated creatinine levels, β2-microglobulin, lactic dehydrogenase, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, while the decreased neutrophils, granulocytes, and hemoglobin. In the serum protein electrophoresis, there appeared two inconspicuous M-spikes. Serum IFE indicated an over-representation of lambda light chain and yielded two monoclonal bands in λ region, but only one corresponding heavy chain band in the antisera to IgD region. The BM histology and BM cytology both supported the diagnosis of IgD-λ/λ myeloma.
Conclusion: This case highlights the differential clinical manifestations and laboratory findings of IgD-λ/λ myeloma to help minimize the chance of misdiagnosis.
Keywords: Bone marrow histology; Case report; Immunoglobulin D-λ/λ myeloma; Multiple myeloma; Serum immunofixation electrophoresis; Serum protein electrophoresis.
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