‘Incomplete’ pyroglobulin‐gamma disease in a patient with osteosclerotic myeloma

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Abstract
A 50-yr-old female, heterozygous for .beta.-thalassemia was found to have a lytic lesion surrounded by osteosclerotic tissue in the 1st lumbar vertebra. Aspiration of the lesion showed 100% atypical plasma cells. The bone marrow contained 17% myeloma cells. Despite normal electrophoresis and immunoelectrophoresis of serum and urine, rouleaux formation was pronounced. Treatment of the serum sample with 2-mercaptoethanol and heat (56.degree. C) disclosed an uncommon pyroglobulin. Analysis of the ammonium sulfate precipitate of the serum by sodium-dodecyl-sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a 43 kD [kilodalton] component with higher anodic mobility than normal .gamma. chains. Ultrafiltration column chromatography of the serum revealed a narrow spike of .apprx. 4 S that contained .gamma. H chain antigenic determinants in addition to normal 7 S IgG.