Glossary
BENCE-JONES PROTEINURIA
Urine is the result of glomerular ultrafiltration and tubular reabsorption. In physiological conditions these processes prevent unwanted protein loss in the urine. Urinary protein detection is of fundamental importance at diagnostic level. As a fact, monoclonal free light chains testing (Bence-Jones protein, BJP) as well as the determination of the presence of intact monoclonal components, enables the identification of monoclonal gammopathies, and the prevention of problems related to the nephrotoxic action of BJPs. Plasma cells generally produce an excess of light chains compared to the respective heavy chain. When these proteins are produced in large quantities, such as in neoplastic diseases, they can harm the renal tubule leading to various degrees of renal impairment. BJPs can be detected by means of urinary electrophoresis, showing up as a well-defined band at varying locations according to the different degrees of protein polymerization, immunofixation thereby allowing its immunochemical characterization. The presence of BJP is a negative prognostic indicator of the progression of plasma cell dyscrasias and its follow-up is contained in all international guidelines.
See also:
• Glossary