Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia, also known as lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in which there’s a clonic proliferation of malignant B-cells, producing excessive amounts of monoclonal IgM antibodies.

Background

  • These plasma cells are usually monoclonal and therefore produce monoclonal immunoglobulin referred to as protein M (M as in myeloma) or paraprotein.
  • Levels of protein M can be measured:
    • From the blood (electrophoresis)
      • "M spike" is seen indicating a high level of immunoglobulins
    • From the urine (in glomerular damage)

Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia

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