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Waldenstroms
Waldenstroms
Antibodies
Antibodies
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Macroglobulinemia of Waldenstrom

Definition:
Macroglobulinemia of Waldenstrom is a cancer of the B lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) which causes overproduction of monoclonal macroglobulin (IgMantibody).

Alternative Names:
Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia; Macroglobulinemia - primary

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The cause of this disease is unknown. It is characterized by overproduction of IgM, which causes the blood to become too thick (hyperviscosity).

This hyperviscosity interferes with blood flow through small blood vessels, which leads to many of the symptoms of the disease. The disease occurs in 5 out of 100,000 people over 50 years old.



Review Date: 8/23/2002
Reviewed By: Scott Howard, M.D., M.S., Memphis, TN. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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