[Waldenström macroglobulinemia. Experience in 31 patients]

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Oncology

Background:

• Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is a rare, indolent B-cell lymphoma characterized by lymphoplasmacytic cell proliferation and monoclonal IgM protein secretion.
• Understanding the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of WM is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical features, management strategies, and treatment outcomes of patients diagnosed with Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) at a public hospital in Chile.
• To assess the overall survival (OS) rates in relation to risk stratification using the International Prognostic Score System for WM (IPSSWM).

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of medical records for 31 patients with WM diagnosed between 2002 and 2017.
• Data collected included patient demographics, clinical presentation, International Prognostic Score System for WM (IPSSWM) risk stratification, treatment modalities, and survival outcomes.
• Median follow-up was 35 months.

Main Results:

• All patients exhibited bone marrow compromise, with 31% showing extranodal involvement.
• Based on IPSSWM, 16%, 58%, and 26% of patients were classified as low, intermediate, and high risk, respectively.
• Overall survival at 5 and 10 years was 74% and 53%, respectively. Five-year OS for low, intermediate, and high-risk groups was 80%, 92%, and 39%.

Conclusions:

• Overall survival in Chilean WM patients was similar to international reports, with notable differences in low-risk patients potentially due to sample size and follow-up duration.
• The study suggests that the routine use of immunochemotherapy could lead to improved survival rates in WM patients.
• Further research with larger cohorts and longer follow-up is warranted to confirm these findings and optimize WM treatment protocols.