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Article
September 1967

Plasma Cell Myeloma and Associated Amino Acid Disorder: Case With Crystalline Deposition in the Cornea and Lens

Author Affiliations

USA; USA, Fort Sam Houston, Tex

From the Department of Medicine, Brooke General Hospital, Fort Sam Houston, Tex. Dr. Arney is now at APO San Francisco 96346; Dr. Handley is now at Fitzsimons General Hospital.

Arch Intern Med. 1967;120(3):353-355. doi:10.1001/archinte.1967.00300030095019
Abstract

PLASMA cell myeloma is at present a commonly recognized disease which is believed to represent autonomous neoplasia arising from those cell populations which are normally responsible for the synthesis of circulating immunoglobulins.1 The finding of marked proliferation of myeloma cells in the bone marrow is no longer a prerequisite for establishing the diagnosis because of more refined techniques available for study of dysproteinemic states. The γ-globulin molecule has, as its major polypeptide subunits, light (L) and heavy (H) chains, interconnected by disulfide bonds.2 It is conceivable that γ-globulin dysynthesis can occur at the level of the basic unit of a polypeptide, the amino acid. A case of what is believed to be a variant of multiple myeloma is reported, having as unique features amino-acidemia with a secondary amino-aciduria of the overflow type and visible deposition of crystalline material in the cornea and lens resulting in impairment of vision.

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