Gammopathy and B lymphocyte clonality in patients with Gaucher type I disease.

INTRODUCTION

We evaluated a novel approach for investigation of lymphocyte dysregulation in Gaucher patients by including determination of IgH and TCR gene rearrangements together with levels of immunoglobulins, natural autoantibodies as well as presence of monoclonal protein.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Measurement of serum immunoglobulins, monoclonal immunoglobulins, selected autoantibodies, as well as analysis of immunoglobulin heavy chain and T cell receptor gene rearrangements.

RESULTS

Immunoglobulin disorder was detected in 29.6% patients, 40.7% demonstrated presence of B cell clonality and 44.4% demonstrated presence of autoantibodies. In five patients in our series, the presence of IgH gene rearrangement was the only detectable indicator of B cell dysfunction. TCR gene rearrangements were not found in any of the patients.

CONCLUSION

Based on our results, we propose IgH gene rearrangements as a new biomarker for investigation of B cell dysfunction occurring as a complication of Gaucher disease.