Towards a novel target therapy for renal diseases related to plasma cell dyscrasias: The example of AL amyloidosis

Immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis is a rare systemic disease caused by monoclonal light chains (LCs) depositing in tissue as insoluble fibrils resulting in irreversible damage of vital organs. The mechanisms involved in aggregation and deposition of LCs are not fully understood, but CD138/38 plasma cells are undoubtedly involved in monoclonal LC production. We are reporting favorable effects on AL amyloidosis patients with renal involvement using the anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody Daratumumab. We speculate that research for the near future should be devoted to design similar therapeutic approaches for other diseases attributable to a plasma cell dyscrasia.