Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). WM is a cancer that affects B lymphocytes (or B cells) and is characterized by an overproduction of proteins called IgM antibodies. WM may also be referred to as Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia, primary macroglobulinemia, or lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma.

In WM, the cancer cell abnormality occurs in B lymphocytes just before they mature into plasma cells. Plasma cells are responsible for producing infection-fighting antibody proteins. Therefore, an increased number of these cells leads to an increased amount of a specific antibody, IgM. In traditional Chinese medicine, macroglobulinemia is caused by the deficiency of Qi and blood due to the dysfunction of liver and kidney. Patients usually suffer from many symptoms, such as fatigue, visual impairment, headache, aversion to cold, lymphadenectasis, purpura, hepatosplenomegaly, etc.

Symptoms of WM in western medicine
Sometimes, Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) isn’t causing any symptoms when it’s first found. Instead, it’s found when the person has blood tests done for some other reason. WM found this way is sometimes called asymptomatic or smoldering WM. When WM does cause symptoms, some of them can be like those seen with other types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). For example, weight loss, fever, night sweats, and swollen lymph nodes can be seen in many types of NHL. Other WM symptoms are caused by the large amounts of abnormal IgM antibody (M protein) made by the cancer cells:

1.In hyperviscosity syndrome, too much of the M protein in the blood can cause it to become too "thick." (This is not the kind of thickness that can be treated with drugs known as blood thinners.) When the blood gets too thick, it has trouble moving through blood vessels. This can cause problems such as poor circulation to the brain, which can lead to symptoms like those from a stroke.

2. If the M protein only thickens the blood in cooler parts of the body (like in the tip of the nose, ears, fingers, and toes), it is called a cryoglobulin. Cryoglobulins can cause pain or other problems in these areas if a person is exposed to cooler temperatures.

3. A condition called amyloidosis can occur when a part of the IgM antibody (called the light chain) builds up in organs like the heart and kidneys. This buildup can lead to heart and kidney problems.