| paraprotein | <biochemistry, immunology> Malignant paraprotein is a form of antibody characteristic of and produced by malignant cells of the mature B-cell type, for example in multiple myeloma. <tumour marker> Its presence in the blood acts as an important marker of disease. (13 Nov 1997) |
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| paraproteinaemia | The presence of abnormal proteins in the blood. (05 Mar 2000) |
| paraproteinaemias | A group of related diseases characterised by an unbalanced or disproportionate proliferation of immunoglobulin-producing cells, usually from a single clone. These cells frequently secrete a structurally homogeneous immunoglobulin (m-component) and/or an abnormal immunoglobulin. (12 Dec 1998) |
| paraproteins | Abnormal immunoglobulins synthesised by atypical cells of the reticuloendothelial system. Paraproteins containing only light chains lead to bence jones paraproteinaemia, while the presence of only atypical heavy chains leads to heavy chain disease. most of the paraproteins show themselves as an m-component (monoclonal gammopathy) in electrophoresis. Diclonal and polyclonal paraproteins are much less frequently encountered. (12 Dec 1998) |