General Information About Waldenström Macroglobulinemia
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is the condition where antibody-producing white blood cells (plasmacytoid lymphocytes) located in the bone marrow become cancerous, multiply uncontrollably, and pump excessive amounts of a very large protein called 'IgM antibody' (Macroglobulin) into the blood.
Yes, it is a blood cancer. However, rather than an aggressive leukemia, it is considered a very slow-progressing (indolent) Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma) type.
IgM is the largest antibody molecule in the body. When cancerous cells secrete too much of it into the blood, the consistency of the blood deteriorates; instead of flowing like water, the blood becomes thick and sticky like honey or molasses.
Thick blood cannot pass through capillaries. This situation causes headaches, dizziness, blurred vision or loss of vision, and uncontrollable severe nose/gum bleeding. It is also accompanied by enlargement of the lymph nodes, spleen, and liver, and chronic fatigue.
The first step of the diagnosis is taken by detecting excessively high IgM levels in a blood test (Protein Electrophoresis). The definitive diagnosis is made by identifying the MYD88 gene mutation and a Bone Marrow Biopsy taken from the pelvis.
If the patient has no complaints, they can only be monitored without treatment for years. If the blood has become too thick, the patient is urgently connected to a Plasmapheresis machine, and these thick proteins in the patient's blood are filtered and cleaned (the blood is thinned). In long-term treatment, Chemotherapy and Smart Drugs (Biological agents) that destroy cancer cells are used.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
