TCM Perspective On Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia
Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, one of the malignant monoclonal gammopathies, is a chronic, indolent, lymphoproliferative disorder. It is characterized by the presence of a high level of a macroglobulin (immunoglobulin M [IgM]), elevated serum viscosity, and the presence of a lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate in the bone marrow.  A clonal disease of B lymphocytes, Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia is considered to be a lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. In traditional Chinese medicine, Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia belongs to the category of consumptive disease caused by the deficiency of liver and kidney.

Western Point of View
Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia is a rare type of cancer; specifically it is a type of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia symptoms begins in the B-lymphocytes which are white blood cells. Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma is another name for waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia which is named after Jan Waldenstrom who was a Swedish doctor who identified the disease in 1944.

Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia is a very rare disease. The causes of waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia remain fairly unknown although recent evidence indicates that changes in DNA may be a cause. Although the causes are unknown several factors are known to increase the occurrence of waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia diagnosis. Age is a factor with most incidences occurring over 50 with the average age being 63. Gender is also a factor in waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia with males almost twice as likely to develop the disease as females. Incidence of the disease is higher in Caucasians and waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia is heredity.

The cancer cells of waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia are similar to multiple myeloma although there are differences. Multiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells and although waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia has features of plasma cells it has lymphocyte features which are not present in multiple myeloma. The prognosis for waldenstrom's.