[Immunoglobulins and dysglobulinemias. Introduction and general data].

The author reviews the present state of knowledge of value in rheumatology concerning serum immunoglobulins, their structure, their cellular biosynthesis, and their relation to membrane immunoglobulins of the B lymphocytes. He then examines the concept of dysglobulinaemia and explains why the terms monoclonal immunoglobulin and monoclonal immunoglobulinopathy are preferable to dysglobulinaemia and paraprotein. The clinical and immunochemical classification of monoclonal immunoglobulins, the problem of amylosis, and the relationship with plasmocytic dyscrasias and with the cryoglobulins are then discussed. Afterwards the pathogeny of these affections is briefly considered.