Case report: serological testing interference of daratumumab (anti-CD38) therapy in multiple myeloma.

We report the case of a 54 years old patient monitored for a monoclonal IgG kappa light chain refractory relapsed multiple myeloma and receiving daratumumab immunotherapy. Daratumumab (DARA), a monoclonal anti-CD38 antibody, belongs to the new generation of immunotherapy in refractory relapse multiple myeloma which the medical pathologist should be aware of to avoid misinterpretation of biological tests performed for patients followed for this disease. By its IgG1K humanized monoclonal antibody backbone, DARA interferes in both serum protein electrophoresis and immunofixation by the presence of an alternate IgGK monoclonal peak, leading to a possible difficulty to assess treatment's response in monoclonal IgG kappa light chain myeloma. By its intrinsic anti-CD38 activity DARA also interferes in the screening and identification of red blood cells alloantibodies, due to stabilized red cells reagent expressing weakly the CD38 molecule. We manage to overcome this last interference by using dithiotreitol.