Osmosis video - Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia

Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia, or Waldenstrom syndrome, is a rare type of malignant lymphoma that's characterized by the overproduction of an antibody called immunoglobulin M, or IgM, in the blood, which can lead to hyperviscosity syndrome and a collection of symptoms including bleeding, visual changes, headaches, and weakness.

Diagnosis is typically made through serum electrophoresis and immunofixation, which can identify elevated levels of immunoglobulin M. Treatment is mainly done through the removal of these large immunoglobulin M proteins via plasmapheresis, but chemotherapeutic agents may also be used. Stem cell transplantation may also be considered in certain cases.