Waldenström's Disease

Waldenström's disease (also known as Waldenström's macroglobulinemia, macroglobulinemia, macroglobulinemic reticulosis, macroglobulinemic reticulolymphomatosis) is a rare disease of the hematopoietic system, characterized by proliferation of bone marrow lymphoid cells and increased synthesis of monoclonal immunoglobulin M.

The disease was first described in 1944 by the Swedish physician Jan Waldenström, after whom it was named. The causes of Waldenström's disease are not completely clear. The main symptoms are weakness, fatigue, weight loss, fever, night sweats, bleeding. Diagnosis is based on a blood test, bone marrow biopsy, and protein electrophoresis. Treatment includes chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and bone marrow transplantation. The prognosis depends on the stage of the disease and the general condition of the patient. Timely treatment increases life expectancy.