Just thought I'd put a point to the clinical flowers in order to
try and get a concensus.
I've been a little concerned of late with the classification of
"intermediate" (ie - surface Mu without light chains) as being between th=
e
"pre B" and "mature B" stagings.
Of the three apparent cases we have had over the last year or so, two of
them had blasts whose cell membranes were inordinately sensitive to
manipulation (lying reagents &/or centrifugation), so much so that the
populations resembled a suspension that had been permeablised without pri=
or
fixation.
Which is exactly my point - could these ALL's be true "pre-B's" (cyto Mu)=
whose membranes are "ready permeablised"?, maybe by interaction with EDT=
A,
to such an extent that you are actually staining the cytoplasmic Mu chain=
s
without knowing it.
Morphologically the cells appear a bit beat up, looking as if they've gon=
e
a few rounds with Tyson, bits chewed out of them etc.
Needless to say all steps were taken to remove free and adhered plasma Ig=
M
before analysis and all were prepared within 3 hours of sample aspiration=
=2E
I'd be glad to hear of anyone's experiences/comments.
Wal Sharp
SQU
Oman