What is Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia?

Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia or lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma is a rare cancer that affects the type of white blood cells called b lymphocytes or B cells. Doctors treat cancer chemotherapy, blood transfusions and blood cleaning, among other things. The prognosis for long -term survival varies according to the patient. They generate a protein called a monoclonal immunoglobulin antibody (IgM). Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma causes overproduction of these cells producing antibody. Excessive IgM thickens the blood so that it does not flow easily by veins and blood vessels.

Many people who have Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia do not experience symptoms. Some patients have weight loss, blurred vision or partial loss of vision, lack of energy, nose bleeding, gum bleeding and dizziness. Other symptoms include unexplained rashes or bruises, faded or bluish and swollen glands.

This disease mainly affects people who are over 65 years old, but younger people are sometimes affected. In men there is a partMore than in women and can be seen more often in people who are of Caucasian origin than members of the races. People who have chronic hepatitis C have twice as much risk of developing macroglobulinemia Waldenstrom as people who do not have this disease. Individuals who are associated with people with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia are also exposed to influence.

doctors diagnose the disease by performing a number of tests. They perform blood and bone marrow biopsy to see how high the IgM levels are and are looking for certain proteins that indicate the presence of Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia. Other tests, such as computed tomography (CT), look at the liver, lymph nodes and other areas of the body.

Since 2011, there has not been a cure for this rare form of cancer. Doctors usually do not recommend the treatment of patients who do not show symptoms. Heals Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia chemotherapy and solves its secondary symptoms withTeroids and other medicines, as well as using blood transfusions and blood cleaning methods called plasmapheresis. Plasmaphesis removes blood from the body, separates the defective plasma from the rest of the blood and replaces it with a replacement plasma before returning it to the body. Some doctors also remove the spleen to minimize the body's ability to produce IgM antibodies.

survival prognosis varies depending on the patient. Some patients develop symptoms slowly for a long time and others experience rapid onset of symptoms. Most patients will survive for about six years, but some people with this disease live for 10 years or more.