Table 1.
Comparison of antigen expression patterns between normal and abnormal plasma cells.
| Antigen(s) | Normal Plasma Cells | Abnormal Plasma Cells | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expression Level | Percentage | Expression Level | Percentage | |
| (a) Identification of normal and abnormal plasma cells in bone marrow | ||||
| * CD45 | +++ | 94% | − | 73 – 80% |
| * CD38 | +++ | 100% | + | 80% |
| CD138 | ++ | 98% | ++ | 98% |
| (b) Markers useful for the distinction of normal and abnormal plasma cells in bone marrow | ||||
| CD19 | ++ | >70% | − | 95% |
| CD56 | − | >85% | +++ | 60 – 75% |
| CD117 | − | 100% | ++ | 30 – 32% |
| CD27 | +++ | 100% | − to + | 40 – 68% |
| CD81 | ++ | 100% | − to + | 55% |
| CD28 | − to + | <15% dim cells | +++ | 15 – 45% |
| CD20 | − | >95% | ++ | 17 – 30% |
| CD200 | − | N/A | +++ | 70% |
+Dimly Positive
++Moderately Positive
+++Strongly Positive
-Negative
*
Can be used to identify and distinguish normal and abnormal plasma cells