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About
Lymphoma > Types of Lymphoma > Waldenström’s
Macroglobulinemia
Last update: 10/31/2006
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Overview of
Waldenstrom's
Macroglobulinemia
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Waldenstrom's
macroglobulinemia (or lymphoplasmacytic disorder) is a cancer of mature plasma cells, B lymphocytes,
which causes overproduction of monoclonal macroglobulin (IgM
antibody). It is sometimes called a a lymphoplasmacytic disorder.
Waldenstrom's often results in the overproduction of IgM, which causes the blood to become too thick.
This blood thickening (hyperviscosity) interferes with blood flow through small blood vessels, which leads to many of the symptoms of the
disease.
B-cell stage: mature, plasma cells
Symptoms may
include:
 | fatigue (from anemia) |
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weight loss |
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headache |
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dizziness, mental status changes |
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bruising of the skin, rash, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, weight loss |
Sometimes people have no symptoms and
it is found by chance following a blood test.
Diagnosis:
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A blood
test. The blood tests will show the number of abnormal cells present and the amount of the
IgM antibody in your blood. |
| Bone
marrow biopsy to determine if abnormal cells are present in
marrow. |
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Ultrasound
- Lets the doctor see if your liver or spleen is enlarged. |
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CT scan -
X-ray images are taken from different angles which are processed
by a computer to create detailed pictures of the inside of the body.
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Resources:
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| Bing Center for WM Research - wmprogram.com/
"Comprehensive recommendations for the diagnosis and therapy of Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia including the consensus panel reports from the 2nd International Workshop on Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia held in Athens, Greece."
- http://www.wmprogram.com/Diagnosis/Default.asp
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Consensus Panel Recommendations from the
Second International
Workshop on Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia
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Consensus Panel Recommendations from the
Second International
Workshop on Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia
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| Detailed
- Guidelines
for diagnosis and therapy - BSH - PDF
| PDF-Help
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Treatments
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TOPIC
SEARCH: Treatment
review | Rituxan
| Splenectomy
Waldenströms macroglobulinaemia is a slowly
progressing, or chronic, condition. You may not need treatment and
will be monitored with blood tests instead. Some people may
never require treatment.
Apheresis
(also called plasmapheresis or plasma exchange) - medlib.med.utah.edu
"The process of apheresis involves removal of whole blood from a patient or donor. Within an instrument that is essentially designed as a centrifuge, the components of whole blood are separated. One of the separated portions is then withdrawn and the remaining components are retransfused into the patient or donor." PAL
Chemotherapy
may include Leukeran, Alkeran, Cytoxan, Fludarabine, Rituxan, or
steroids.
Splenectomy is the surgical resection
(removal) of an enlarged spleen. Case reports indicate this procedure
can be effective in treating WM - Related
PubMed abstracts | About splenectomy
Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia:
Questions and Answers - Cancer.gov
Includes How is Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia
treated?
ARTICLES
| Bing Center researchers publish
two new papers on mast cells and WM - wmprogram.com
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| Mast cells in Waldenstrom's
macroglobulinemia support lymphoplasmacytic cell growth through
CD154/CD40 signaling - wmprogram.com/
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A Phase I/II Study of TACI-Ig To Neutralize APRIL and
BLyS in Patients with Refractory or Relapsed Multiple Myeloma or
Active Previously-Treated Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia.
Session Type: Poster Session 770-II - ASH
2005
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Predictive Factors for Response and Progression after
Treatment with Rituximab in Previously Untreated Patients with
Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia (WM). Session Type: Poster Session
736-III - ASH
2005
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Phase II Study of Bortezomib [Velcade] in
Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia: Results of WMCTG Trial 03-248.
Session Type: Oral Session - ASH
2005
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Durable remission after splenectomy for Waldenstrom's
macroglobulinemia with massive splenomegaly in leukemic phase.
Leuk Lymphoma. 1997 Jul;26(3-4):387-93. PMID: 9322902
| Related
articles
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Use of iodine 131I-tositumomab radioimmunotherapy in a patient
with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia.
Leuk Lymphoma. 2004 Mar;45(3):591-5. PMID:
15160923
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Treatment of Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia with rituximab.
J Clin Oncol. 2002 May 1;20(9):2327-33. PMID: 11981004 - PubMed
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Fludarabine therapy in Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia
patients treated previously with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine. Leuk
Lymphoma. 2002 Feb;43(2):361-3.
PMID: 11999570 - PubMed
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| Treatment of Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia with rituximab.
J Clin Oncol. 2002 May 1;20(9):2327-33. PMID:
11981004
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| Extended Rituximab
Therapy for Previously Untreated Patients with Waldenstrom's
Macroglobulinemia. Clin Lymphoma. 2002 Dec;3(3):163-6. PMID:
12521393 - PubMed
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Clinical Trials
and Research Centers
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ClinicalTrials.gov
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| WM Clinical Trials Group (WMCTG)
Dana Farber Cancer Inst, MA
UCLA Medical Ctr., CA
Stanford University, CA
Beth Israel Hospital, MA
Roswell Park Memorial, NY
St. Vincent's Hospital, NY
LI Jewish Memorial, NY
University of Maryland, MD
University of Miami, FL
Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH
Northwestern University, IL
Rush Presbyterian, IL
Rocky Mountain Cancer Ctr., CO
Arizona Cancer Ctr., AZ
McMaster University, Canada
Cross Cancer Ctr., Canada
St Bartholomew's, UK
Karolinska Institut, Sweden
Hopital Schaffner, France
University of Salamanca, Spain
Niguarda Hospital, Italy
McCallum Cancer Ctr., Australia
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Research News
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Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia: a review of therapy.
Leuk Lymphoma. 2002 Aug;43(8):1517-26. PMID: 12400593 - PubMed
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