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Waldenström Macroglobulinaemia (WM) is an indolent, non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma characterised by lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of the bone marrow
together with a monoclonal IgM paraprotein in the blood. It
predominantly affects older adults and follows a chronic, relapsing course.
Clinical features stem from
marrow failure and high IgM levels, including fatigue from anaemia, bruising or
bleeding due to thrombocytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy,
and hyperviscosity syndrome (blurred vision, headache, neurological
deficits). Diagnosis requires ?10% clonal lymphoplasmacytic cells in marrow
plus serum IgM monoclonal protein, after excluding other small B cell
lymphomas.
Asymptomatic patients may
undergo watchful waiting, while symptomatic disease warrants therapy.
First line options include chemoimmunotherapy (e.g., bendamustine-rituximab, cyclophosphamide-dexamethasone-rituximab), proteasome inhibitor-based regimens, and BTK inhibitors such as ibrutinib. Plasmapheresis
provides rapid relief in hyperviscosity. Although incurable, many
patients achieve durable responses and prolonged survival with appropriate
monitoring and treatment.