Screening to Improve Survival in AL Amyloidosis

The purpose of this study is to see whether certain genes may be linked with the development of AL amyloidosis in subjects 60 years of age or older with the blood disorders SMM and MGUS. A limited repertoire of immunoglobulin (Ig) variable region genes have been associated with AL amyloidosis. The clonal plasma cells of subjects with SMM and MGUS may express one of these Ig variable region genes indicating a risk of progression to AL amyloidosis and potentially enabling early diagnosis. We hope this study will help us begin to understand whether Ig variable region gene identification can be a useful tool for assessing a subject's risk of progression to AL amyloidosis.