Table 1.
Age and concentration of free light chains (FLC) in the study population expressed as mean ± standard deviation
| n | Age (years) | κ (mg/l) | λ (mg/l) | κ /λ | κ + λ (mg/l) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HCVMC | 62 | 61·4 ± 12 | 33·5 ± 2·6 (P < 0·0001) | 20·4 ± 1·4 (P = n.s.) | 1·60 ± 0·08 (P < 0·0001) | 56·2 ± 4·0 (P < 0·0001) |
| RA | 37 | 57·6 ± 13 | 26·7 ± 2·3 (P < 0·0001) | 14·4 ± 1·0 (P = n.s.) | 1·70 ± 0·07 (P < 0·0001) | 43·0 ± 3·6 (P < 0·0001) |
| SLE | 47 | 60·0 ± 14 | 29·7 ± 1·9 (P < 0·0001) | 18·4 ± 1·0 (P = n.s.) | 1·59 ± 0·05 (P < 0·0001) | 49·1 ± 2·8 (P < 0·0001) |
| APS | 52 | 63·2 ± 13 | 23·8 ± 1·1 (P < 0·0001) | 14·7 ± 0·8 (P = n.s.) | 1·56 ± 0·05 (P < 0·0001) | 38·1 ± 1·6 (P < 0·0001) |
| pSS | 62 | 61·8 ± 11 | 24·2 ± 1·1 (P < 0·0001) | 14·4 ± 0·6 (P = n.s.) | 1·50 ± 0·05 (P < 0·0001) | 37·8 ± 1·3 (P < 0·0001) |
| HD | 50 | 51 ± 10·2 | 10·1 ± 0·6 | 13·6 ± 0·9 | 0·78 ± 0·03 | 23·7 ± 1·5 |
Normal range for FLCs: 3·30–19·40 mg/l for κ; 5·71–26·30 mg/l for λ. A ratio of κ/λ < 0·26 or > 1·65 is abnormal.
P was calculated between each patients group and healthy donors (HD).
HCVMC = hepatitis C virus‐related mixed cryoglobulinaemia; RA = rheumatoid arthritis; SLE= systemic lupus erythematosus; APS = anti‐phospholipid syndrome; pSS = primary Sjogren's syndrome; n.s.= not significant.