Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia
WM
Facts
:
Clonal disorder of B cells malignant monoclonal gammopathy
Chronic, indolent disease of the elderly
History / PE
:
History of MGUS precursor
Lethargy, fatigue, night sweats
Raynaud's
pnenomenon (from
cryoglobulinemia
)
Neurologic problems (AMS,
peripheral neuropathy
)
Diagnosis
:
Elevated ESR, uric acid, LDH, and alkaline phosphatase
Abnormal plasma cells with Dutcher bodies
IgM spike
on electrophoresis
Treatment
:
Plasmaphersis
Chemotherapy
Complications
:
Hyperviscosity syndrome
secondary to elevated IgM (eg. retinal vein engorgement)
Associated With
:
Amyloidosis
Cold agglutination disease (autoimmune
hemolytic anemia
)
Differential Diagnosis
:
Multiple myeloma
(IgG or IgA, hyperviscosity syndromes rare)
July 25th 2010
Categories
Hematology
Internal Medicine
Links
Files & Images
Blood smear #1
Blood smear #2