Vasoproliferative retinopathy secondary to Waldenström's disease

A 66 year-old patient, monitored for diabetic retinopathy refractory to multiple treatment methods despite a good metabolic control, referred to progressive weight loss. For this reason, a systemic study was performed, detecting anaemia, elevation of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and hyperproteinaemia due to elevated serum levels of monoclonal IgM. Subsequently, by performing a bone marrow biopsy and genetic study, the diagnosis of Waldenström macroglobulinaemia was made. Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia is a low frequency lymphoproliferative disease, for which the main manifestation is a hyperviscosity syndrome that can produce ophthalmological signs detectable by funduscopy and imaging tests. A multimodal study is useful in the diagnosis and monitoring of retinal involvement. The incorporation of angiography by optical coherence tomography allows a more precise study of the microvascular disorders that may occur at the posterior pole level.