[Primary macroglobulinemia with hypercalcemia, renal failure and systemic amyloidosis]

This report deals with an unusual case of primary macroglobulinemia with hypercalcemia, chronic renal failure and systemic amyloidosis. In May 1990, a 63-year-old male was transferred to our hospital because of hypercalcemia (13.5 mg/dl) and renal failure. Clinical examinations showed anemia, macroglossia, lymph node swellings and hepatomegaly. Laboratory findings included Bence-Jones (kappa type) proteinuria (0.8 g/day), a monoclonal gammopathy of the IgM-kappa type (2.8 g/dl), a proliferation of lymphoid cells in the peripheral blood (5%) and the bone marrow (59.6%), and lymphomatous involvement of an inguinal lymph node. Serum creatinine concentration was 8.5 mg/dl. The serum levels of parathormone and vitamin D3 metabolites were normal. The roentgenogram of bones showed a compression fracture of the lumbar spine and systemic osteoporosis. The treatment included eel calcitonin, prednisolone and the CHOP regimen, followed by hemodialysis and plasmapheresis. The serum level of IgM increased to 4.6 g/dl. The patient died three months later and postmortem examination demonstrated marked systemic amyloidosis.