Waldenström macroglobulinemia: What a hematologist needs to know.
Publication/Presentation Date
9-1-2015
Abstract
Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is a distinct hematologic malignancy characterized by a lymphoplasmacytic bone marrow infiltration and the presence of immunoglobulin (Ig)M monoclonal protein. Patients typically present at an advanced age, and a substantial proportion are asymptomatic at diagnosis. A unifying diagnosis of WM may be missed by an unsuspecting hematologist, as symptomatic patients present with a multitude of non-specific manifestations. Although constitutional and neuropathy-related symptoms predominate, concomitant IgM-induced hyperviscosity-associated features can provide useful diagnostic clues. There are specific indications for initiation of therapy. This review focuses on the most up-to-date management strategies of WM, in addition to highlighting the recent discoveries of MYD88 and CXCR4 mutations that have shed unprecedented light on the complex signaling pathways, and opened avenues for novel therapeutic targeting. Although WM remains incurable, with the rapid emergence and integration of effective novel therapies, its clinical course appears poised to improve in the foreseeable future.
Volume
29
Issue
5
First Page
301
Last Page
319
ISSN
1532-1681
Published In/Presented At
Kapoor, P., Paludo, J., Vallumsetla, N., & Greipp, P. R. (2015). Waldenström macroglobulinemia: What a hematologist needs to know. Blood reviews, 29(5), 301–319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.blre.2015.03.001
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
25882617
Department(s)
Department of Medicine
Document Type
Article