Rearrangement of immunoglobulins genes in the alpha heavy chain diseases: monoclonality criteria

ABSTRACT

We have studied the configuration of genes encoding for the heavy and light chains in the tumoral cells of 6 patients affected by alpha heavy chain disease [alpha HCD]. The results showed the presence of rearrangement of the alpha heavy chain as well as the kappa light chain genes whereas the lambda genes were in germinal configuration. Thus, these results suggest the presence of a monoclonal compound in the tumoral cells in the alpha HCD