A Healthy Young Man Presenting with Multiple Rib Fractures

Summary

DOI: 10.1373/clinchem.2009.135095

A 32-year-old, otherwise healthy man presented initially with right rib and sternal pain after lifting a heavy object. The patient also reported several rib fractures 1 year previously associated with coughing. On examination, the patient had bilateral rib tenderness. Chest x-ray revealed multiple healing fractures of the sixth, seventh, and eighth ribs. A bone scan demonstrated increased uptake in the sternum and bilaterally in the ribs.

Complete Article
Commentary: David Sinclair
Commentary: Sterling T. Bennett

Student Discussion

Student Discussion Document (pdf)

Lindsey Harle,¹ Clayton Chan,² Nadhipuram V. Bhagavan,³ Carlos N. Rios,^1,4 Cheryl E. Sugiyama,⁴ Miki Loscalzo,⁴ Jane Uyehara-Lock,^1,4 and Stacey A.A. Honda^1,4*

¹Department of Pathology and ³Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry and Physiology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI; ²Department of Oncology and ⁴Department of Pathology, Kaiser Foundation Hospital, Honolulu, HI.
* Address correspondence to this author at: Pathology/Regional Laboratory, Kaiser Foundation Hospital, 3288 Moanalua Road, Honolulu, HI 96819. E-mail [email protected].

⁵Nonstandard abbreviations: CEDIA, cloned enzyme donor immunoassay; LCMS/MS, liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry.

Case Description

A complete blood count was normal with the exception of a platelet count of 61 000/uL (reference interval, 130 000–440 000/uL). Alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, and calcium were within reference intervals. Total protein and albumin were 67 g/L (reference interval, 61–79 g/L) and 44 g/L (reference interval, 35–48 g/L), respectively. Ig concentrations were decreased: IgG 6.07 g/L (reference interval, 7.51–15.60 g/L), IgA 0.31 g/L (reference interval, 0.69 –2.09 g/L), and IgM 0.10 g/L (reference interval, 0.48 – 2.74 g/L). We performed serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP)5 and immunofixation using the Sebia Hydrasys®. SPEP showed no monoclonal band in the γ region but an unexplained band in the β region with a reduced γ-globulin concentration of 3.9 g/L (reference interval, 6–14 g/L). Serum immunofixation electrophoresis showed a prominent λ monoclonal band in the β region and hypogammaglobulinemia. Immunofixation studies for IgG, IgA, and IgM were negative for the presence of monoclonal bands. β2-Microglobulin was increased at 3.51 mg/L (reference interval, <1.85 mg/L). Twentyfour-hour urine collection was significant for a total protein of 0.54 g/24 h (reference interval, <0.15 g/24 h); urine protein electrophoresis (UPEP) and immunofixation revealed 2 monoclonal λ light chain bands.

Questions to Consider

List of the significant and atypical findings in this case.
Given the patient's SPEP and immunofixation results, what additional testing should be performed by the laboratory?
What is teh differetial diagnosis of the monoclonal band that shows staining for light chains, but not for IgG, IgA, or IgM?

Final Publication and Comments

The final published version with discussion and comments from the experts appears in the September 2010 issue of Clinical Chemistry, approximately 3-4 weeks after the Student Discussion is posted.

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