Immunoglobulin allotypes are not involved in systemic amyloidosis.

To evaluate the role of immunoglobulin (Ig) allotypes in the pathogenesis of amyloidosis, 8 Gm allotypes and the Km 1 allotype were determined in the sera of patients with amyloid AL (n = 27) and amyloid AA (n = 43). As controls we selected normal individuals (n = 204), 2 patients groups with multiple myeloma (both n = 40) and patients with rheumatoid arthritis (n = 71) and Crohn's disease (n = 47). Our results clearly show that Ig allotypes are not involved in the development of amyloidosis. Our results indicate that the Km 1 allotypic marker is associated with RA.