Table 1 Baseline characteristics and frequencies of chromosomal abnormalities in systemic AL amyloidosis according to self-identified racial group.

From: Differences in the cytogenetic underpinnings of AL amyloidosis among African Americans and Caucasian Americans

 

African Americans

(n = 42)

Caucasian Americans

(n = 286)

Differencea

P

Baseline characteristics

Median age, years (IQR)

61 (52–69)

63 (57–69)

 

0.077

Male, n (%)

24 (57)

170 (59)

 

0.777

λ amyloidogenic light chain, n (%)

34 (81)

232 (81)

 

0.980

Median dFLC, mg/L (IQR)

128 (48–262)

120 (62–289)

 

0.750

Median bone marrow plasma cells, % (IQR)

10 (10–18)

10 (5–15)

 

0.601

Heart involvement, n (%)

29 (69)

176 (62)

 

0.348

Median BNP, pg/mL (IQR)

194 (62–648)

219 (76–593)

 

0.758

BNP-based cardiac stage, n (%)

   

0.572

Stage I

13 (31)

76 (27)

  

Stage II

19 (45)

119 (42)

  

Stage III

3 (7)

43 (15)

  

Stage IIIb

7 (17)

48 (17)

  

Kidney involvement, n (%)

28 (67)

202 (71)

 

0.600

Median proteinuria, g/day (IQR)

3.2 (0.3–6.6)

2.9 (0.2–7.4)

 

0.382

First-line treatment, n (%)

   

0.621

Bortezomib-based regimen

22 (52)

149 (52)

  

HDM/SCT

13 (31)

70 (24)

  

Other treatment

4 (10)

38 (13)

  

No treatment recordedb

3 (7)

29 (10)

  

Cytogenetic abnormalities, n (%)

Any cytogenetic aberrancy detected

36 (86)

219 (77)

9%

0.184

IgH translocations:

t(11;14)

26 (62)

131 (46)

16%

0.051

t(4;14)

0 (0)

7 (2)

−2%

0.305

t(14;16)

2 (5)

2 (<1)

4%

0.025

t(14;20)

1 (2)

3 (1)

1%

0.463

Unknown partner

4 (10)

18 (6)

4%

0.435

Any IgH translocation

32 (76)

157 (55)

21%

0.009

Deletions:

13q14

14 (33)

90 (32)

1%

0.808

17p13

1 (2)

5 (2)

0%

0.775

1p

1 (2)

1 (<1)

1%

0.114

Gains:

1q21c

4/35 (11)

48/224 (21)

−10%

0.170

Any trisomy

13 (31)

97 (34)

−3%

0.704

Hyperdiploidyd

3 (7)

37 (13)

−6%

0.284

  1. IQR interquartile range, dFLC difference in the involved and uninvolved light chains, BNP B-type natriuretic peptide, HDM/SCT high-dose melphalan and autologous stem cell transplantation, IgH immunoglobulin heavy chain, CI confidence interval, NR not reached.
  2. aDifference signifies the frequency of the respective chromosomal abnormality among CAs subtracted from that among AAs.
  3. bNo treatments recorded due to early death (n = 10); loss to follow-up (n = 8); lack of vital organ involvement (n = 8); patient choice (n = 4) or therapy not yet initiated (n = 2).
  4. cThe probe for 1q21 gain was unavailable in 69 cases.
  5. dHyperdiploidy was defined as trisomies of at least two of the chromosomes 5, 9 or 15 per Wuilleme et al. [16].
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