Plasma cell dyscrasia in 105 Japanese patients with systemic amyloidosis.

Total 105 Japanese cases of systemic amyloidosis were analysed in terms of Congo red staining with potassium permanganate, anti-amyloid serum staining by immunoperoxidase and the occurrence of monoclonal proteins (ie. plasma cell dyscrasia, PCD). Thirty three cases of primary type amyloidosis and 22 cases of myeloma-associated amyloidosis were mostly associated with PCD, with 3 exceptional cases without PCD. In contrast, 45 cases of secondary type amyloidosis were demonstrated as AA type, with no association of PCD. Predominance of lambda light chain in amyloidosis was contrasted to kappa chain predominance among the non-amyloidotic myeloma cases.