FLUORESCENCE IMAGE-ANALYSIS OF PLASMA-CELLS IN MONOCLONAL GAMMOPATHIES

The DNA content of plasma cells was estimated by fluorescence image an alysis in monoclonal gammopathies. Image analysis provides the possibi lity of measuring the bone marrow plasma cell population separately fr om the other myeloid cells. Plasma cells were labeled, identified and then relocated for propidium iodide intensity measurements. Patients w ith DNA malignancy grade > 0.20 or with DNA index > 1.15 had a poorer survival rate than did patients with a low DNA malignancy grade or DNA index. DNA malignancy grade is based on the variance of DNA values ar ound the normal diploid peak, as proposed by Bocking. Of all the biolo gic and clinical parameters investigated, the serum beta(2) microglobu lin level was the most important prognostic factor for survival in the multivariate regression analysis, and the DNA entropy index provided the most significant additional information.