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Clinical Implications

John N. Goldman, MD; Margaret B. Goldman, PhD

JAMA. 1984;251(6):774-787.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

IN THE 1840s, Dr Henry Bence Jones published a description of an unusual protein found in the urine of a patient with a disease that was to become known as multiple myeloma or plasmacytoma.¹ (See glossary on page 787.) These "Bence Jones proteins" are now known to consist of the light chains of immunoglobulins and are but one of many protein abnormalities associated with multiple myeloma. Multiple myeloma results from the malignant proliferation of a clone of plasma cells that produce intact immunoglobulins or immunoglobulin fragments or both. The distinguishing feature of multiple myeloma is its association with a highly homogeneous population of immunoglobulin molecules (ie, monoclonal) rather than highly heterogeneous populations that are found in normal persons. Immunoglobulins are the most heterogeneous family of biologic molecules known. Plasmacytomas also occur in a variety of experimental animals, most notably in the mouse where the disease can readily be induced . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
From Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center, University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine.

Footnotes
A glossary of terms used in this article appears on page 787.

Reprint requests to Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center, 29th Street at Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60616 (Dr J. Goldman).

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