[Waldenström macroglobulinemia]

Waldenström macroglobulinemia is a rare lymphoproliferative disease of B-cell origin.These tumorous B-cells produce monoclonal IgM type protein. Diagnosis is based on the detection of lymphoplasmacytic invasion of the bone marrow and serum electrophoresis. Clinical symptoms such as anemia, hyperviscosity and neuropathy are the commom consequences of bone marrow infiltration and serum monoclonal IgM protein. Former use of alkylating agents are replaced by purine analogues, rituximab and bortezomib. Additional clinical data have also accumulated regarding autologous and allogenous stem-cell transplantation. The authors present their own clinical experience and give a detailed review of current therapeutic approaches. Orv. Hetil., 154(50), 1970-1974.