Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia

Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia
A chronic low-grade (indolent) type of lymphoma due to a malignant clone of plasma cells. These plasma cells multiply out of control, invade the bone marrow, lymph nodes, and spleen, and characteristically produce huge amounts of a large-sized antibody called macroglobulin or IgM. The excess IgM causes the blood to be hyperviscous (to thicken). Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia can occur in younger people but is usually seen in people over age 65. The disease is more common among men than women and among whites than blacks. Signs and symptoms of the disease may include enlarged lymph nodes or spleen (splenomegaly), fatigue, headaches, weight loss, a tendency to bleed easily, visual problems, confusion, dizziness, and loss of coordination. The symptoms are largely due to the thickening of the blood. In extreme cases, the increased concentration of IgM in the blood can lead to heart failure. The treatment depends upon the viscosity of the patient's blood. Patients with pronounced hyperviscosity usually receive chemotherapy (anticancer drugs). A type of treatment called plasmapheresis may be performed to relieve symptoms such as excessive bleeding and dizziness. In this procedure, the blood plasma (which contains the antibody IgM) is removed from the patient. Other parts of the blood (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets) are returned to the patient along with a plasma substitute. Interferon alpha, a form of biological therapy, may also help relieve symptoms.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • Waldenström, macroglobulinemia de — macroglobulinemia de Waldenström f. hemat. Macroglobulinemia que afecta principalmente a varones ancianos ocasionada por una proliferación clonal de linfocitos B que segregan grandes cantidades de IgM. Los síntomas que provoca son astenia,… …   Diccionario médico

  • Waldenström macroglobulinemia — An indolent (slow growing) type of non Hodgkin lymphoma marked by abnormal levels of IgM antibodies in the blood and an enlarged liver, spleen, or lymph nodes. Also called lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma …   English dictionary of cancer terms

  • Macroglobulinemia de Waldenstrom — Waldenström s macroglobulinemia Clasificación y recursos externos CIE 10 C88.0 CIE 9 273.3 …   Wikipedia Español

  • macroglobulinemia de Waldenström — f. hemat. Macroglobulinemia que afecta principalmente a varones ancianos ocasionada por una proliferación clonal de linfocitos B que segregan grandes cantidades de IgM. Los síntomas que provoca son astenia, debilidad, alteraciones visuales,… …   Diccionario médico

  • Waldenström — may refer to:*Paul Petter Waldenström (1838 1917), Swedish theologian who became the most prominent leader of the free church movement in late 19th century Sweden. *Jan G. Waldenström (1906 1996), Swedish physician who identified the condition… …   Wikipedia

  • Waldenström's macroglobulinemia — DiseaseDisorder infobox Name = Waldenström s macroglobulinemia ICD10 = ICD10|C|88|0|c|81 ICDO = ICDO|9761|3 ICD9 = ICD9|273.3 OMIM = 153600 MedlinePlus = 000588 eMedicineSubj = med eMedicineTopic = 2395 DiseasesDB = 14030 MeshID = D008258… …   Wikipedia

  • Macroglobulinemia, Waldenstrom — A chronic low grade (indolent) type of lymphoma due to a malignant clone of plasma cells. These plasma cells multiply out of control, invade the bone marrow, lymph nodes, and spleen, and characteristically produce huge amounts of a large sized… …   Medical dictionary

  • Macroglobulinemia — Infobox Disease Name = PAGENAME Caption = DiseasesDB = ICD10 = ICD9 = ICD9|273.3 ICDO = OMIM = MedlinePlus = eMedicineSubj = eMedicineTopic = MeshID = D008258 Macroglobulinemia is the presence of increased levels of macroglobulins in the… …   Wikipedia

  • macroglobulinemia — A condition in which the blood contains high levels of large proteins and is too thick to flow through small blood vessels. One type is Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, which is a type of cancer …   English dictionary of cancer terms

  • macroglobulinemia — f. hemat. Incremento anormal en la sangre de gammaglobulina M (de alto peso molecular); puede aparecer sin síntomas o ser esencial (macroglobulinemia de Waldenström). Medical Dictionary. 2011 …   Diccionario médico

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