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Macroglobulinemia of Waldenstrom    See images

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia; Macroglobulinemia - primary

Treatment

Apheresis (in this case, it is called plasmapheresis or plasma exchange) is a procedure for removing unwanted substances from the blood. In macroglobulinemia, it is used to control the symptoms caused by hyperviscosity by removing or reducing the high concentration of IgM. Blood is withdrawn from the person in the same way as for a blood donation, and the blood is passed through a cell separator that removes the plasma (the fluid portion, which contains the antibodies). The formed elements (blood cells) are reconstituted with a plasma substitute or with donated plasma. The reconstituted blood is then returned to the body as in a blood transfusion. This is an acute procedure designed to quickly control symptoms.

Drug therapy may include Leukeran, Alkeran, Cytoxan or corticosteroids.

Anemia (deficient number of red blood cells), leukopenia (deficient number of white blood cells), and thrombocytopenia (deficient number of platelets) in the later stages of the disease may require the use of packed red cell transfusions, antibiotics, or platelet transfusions.

Prognosis

The median survival is about 5 years. In some people the disorder may be chronic with few symptoms and slow progression.

Complications

• vision impairment
• gastrointestinal bleeding
• alterations in mental status possibly progressing to coma
• congestive heart failure

Call Your Health Care Provider If:

Call your health care provider if symptoms of this disorder develop.

Ency. home > Disease > M > Macroglobulinemia of Waldenstrom

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