Development of Multiple Myeloma of the IgA Type in a Patient with Cold Agglutinin Disease: Transformation or Coincidence?

Cold agglutinin disease (CAD) is an autoimmune hemolytic anemia and a distinct, clonal bone marrow lymphoproliferative disorder, characterized in most cases by a monoclonal IgMκ serum protein. We describe a CAD patient presenting with a monoclonal immunoglobulin of the IgAλ class. For years, she rem...

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Main Authors: Øystein Sefland, Ulla Randen, Sigbjørn Berentsen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2019-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Hematology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/1610632
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author Øystein Sefland
Ulla Randen
Sigbjørn Berentsen
author_facet Øystein Sefland
Ulla Randen
Sigbjørn Berentsen
author_sort Øystein Sefland
collection DOAJ
description Cold agglutinin disease (CAD) is an autoimmune hemolytic anemia and a distinct, clonal bone marrow lymphoproliferative disorder, characterized in most cases by a monoclonal IgMκ serum protein. We describe a CAD patient presenting with a monoclonal immunoglobulin of the IgAλ class. For years, she remained asymptomatic apart from the hemolytic anemia until eventually she developed multiple myeloma (MM) of the IgAλ phenotype. Prior to the development of MM, her hemolytic anemia responded to rituximab monotherapy. After she was diagnosed with MM, both conditions responded well to bortezomib-based therapy. We performed further investigations to determine whether her MM represented a progression/transformation of CAD or an independent disease. Flow cytometry and biopsy findings convincingly confirmed two unrelated clonal B-cell disorders. On this background, we also discuss previously published reports on cold agglutinin activity in patients with IgA gammopathy. In conclusion, cold agglutinins of the IgA class do probably not result in CAD. If a monoclonal immunoglobulin other than IgMκ is found in a patient with CAD, the coexistence of two unrelated B-cell clones should be suspected.
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spelling doaj-art-33a595ccb2394508863747f7c082f62f2025-02-03T01:31:10ZengWileyCase Reports in Hematology2090-65602090-65792019-01-01201910.1155/2019/16106321610632Development of Multiple Myeloma of the IgA Type in a Patient with Cold Agglutinin Disease: Transformation or Coincidence?Øystein Sefland0Ulla Randen1Sigbjørn Berentsen2Section of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, NorwayDepartment of Pathology, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, NorwayDepartment of Research and Innovation, Haugesund Hospital, Haugesund, NorwayCold agglutinin disease (CAD) is an autoimmune hemolytic anemia and a distinct, clonal bone marrow lymphoproliferative disorder, characterized in most cases by a monoclonal IgMκ serum protein. We describe a CAD patient presenting with a monoclonal immunoglobulin of the IgAλ class. For years, she remained asymptomatic apart from the hemolytic anemia until eventually she developed multiple myeloma (MM) of the IgAλ phenotype. Prior to the development of MM, her hemolytic anemia responded to rituximab monotherapy. After she was diagnosed with MM, both conditions responded well to bortezomib-based therapy. We performed further investigations to determine whether her MM represented a progression/transformation of CAD or an independent disease. Flow cytometry and biopsy findings convincingly confirmed two unrelated clonal B-cell disorders. On this background, we also discuss previously published reports on cold agglutinin activity in patients with IgA gammopathy. In conclusion, cold agglutinins of the IgA class do probably not result in CAD. If a monoclonal immunoglobulin other than IgMκ is found in a patient with CAD, the coexistence of two unrelated B-cell clones should be suspected.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/1610632
spellingShingle Øystein Sefland
Ulla Randen
Sigbjørn Berentsen
Development of Multiple Myeloma of the IgA Type in a Patient with Cold Agglutinin Disease: Transformation or Coincidence?
Case Reports in Hematology
title Development of Multiple Myeloma of the IgA Type in a Patient with Cold Agglutinin Disease: Transformation or Coincidence?
title_full Development of Multiple Myeloma of the IgA Type in a Patient with Cold Agglutinin Disease: Transformation or Coincidence?
title_fullStr Development of Multiple Myeloma of the IgA Type in a Patient with Cold Agglutinin Disease: Transformation or Coincidence?
title_full_unstemmed Development of Multiple Myeloma of the IgA Type in a Patient with Cold Agglutinin Disease: Transformation or Coincidence?
title_short Development of Multiple Myeloma of the IgA Type in a Patient with Cold Agglutinin Disease: Transformation or Coincidence?
title_sort development of multiple myeloma of the iga type in a patient with cold agglutinin disease transformation or coincidence
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/1610632
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