Cairns Haematology

Articles

Polyclonal and oligoclonal hypergammaglobulinemia

Tags: Hypergammaglobulinemia

Last updated Nov. 1, 2025, 10:23 p.m. by ivo

Hypergammaglobulinemia results from an overproduction of immunoglobulins. This process may be polyclonal or oligoclonal (i.e. increased synthesis from multiple plasma cell lines as seen in infection); or monoclonal (increased synthesis from a single plasma cell clone).

Raised light chains

Tags: Amyloidosis , MGUS , Myeloma , Raised light chains

Last updated Nov. 1, 2025, 8:57 p.m. by ivo

Serum free light chains are used to assess for clonally-restricted plasma cell populations. As such, they are only diagnostically useful and reflect possible pathological plasma cell conditions when there are elevated kappa or lambda serum free light chains AND the ratio of kappa to lambda free light chains is abnormal.

Neutrophilia

Tags: Neutrophilia

Last updated Nov. 1, 2025, 10:24 p.m. by ivo

The neutrophil reference range will vary depending on the age, gender and pregnancy status of the patient, as well as the laboratory performing the test. In general, the neutrophil count is considered elevated when it is above 8 x 109/L.

Monocytosis

Tags: monocytosis

Last updated Nov. 1, 2025, 10:26 p.m. by ivo

The monocyte reference range will vary depending on the age, gender and pregnancy status of the patient, as well as the laboratory performing the test. In general, the monocyte count is considered elevated when it is > 1 x 109/L.

Mild Anaemia

Tags: Anaemia

Last updated Nov. 1, 2025, 10:26 p.m. by ivo

The haemoglobin reference range will vary depending on the age, gender and pregnancy status of the patient, as well as the laboratory performing the test. In general, the haemoglobin is considered to be low when it is < 130 g/L in males and <115 g/L in females. The MCV and reticulocyte count are useful to guide further investigation as below.