Monoclonal immunoglobulinaemia in rheumatological practice

Monoclonal immunoglobulinaemia is the manifestation of a number of diseases with a quite different prognosis. In some instances in can be associated with articular symptomatology. The authors present an analysis of case-records of four patients where monoclonal immunoglobulinaemia was associated with signs of rheumatic disease--oligoarthritis or polyarthritis of the rheumatoid type. In one instance Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia with Sjögren's syndrome and hyperviscosity syndrome was involved. In another patient a myeloma was diagnosed. In the remaining two patients a more benign type of monoclonal immunoglobulinaemia was involved.