Waldenström macroglobulinemia

Waldenström macroglobulinemia represents a malignant proliferative disease of B cells. The exact pathogenesis is unclear, it comes to the proliferation of monoclonal B cells, which can infiltrate organs such as the bone marrow and there, interfere with the formation of blood.

The clinical picture also includes an overproduction of IgM antibodies. The etiology is unknown, a familial accumulation is observed. Patients suffering from hepatitis B or C, HIV or autoimmune diseases are at greater risk for the disease. The main symptoms of Waldenström's disease are fatigue, poor performance, increased tendency to bleed, frequent infections and painless enlargement of the lymph nodes.

Some patients have B symptoms, hepato- or splenomegaly, Raynaud's syndrome and polyneuropathy. As a result of the high IgM concentrations, the hyperviscosity syndrome may be associated with symptoms such as vision and hearing impairment as well as dizziness.

The mean age of onset is 65 years, men and fair-skinned people are affected more frequently. Waldenström's disease is one of the indolent lymphomas, symptoms develop over a long period of time and the disease is often diagnosed only by chance.