title: Efficacy of a combined treatment with plasma exchange and cytostatics in macroglobulinemia.
abstract: Monthly plasma exchange (PE) sessions have been carried out in 3 patients with advanced Waldenström macroglobulinemia, in order to reduce electrophoretic M band under 2g/100 ml. When PE was combined to low doses of cytostatics (n = 18), 3 procedures per session were required to obtain a mean 57.4 +/- 12.3% IgM reduction, from 4.2 +/- 1.2 to 1.7 +/- 0.5 g/100 ml. A mean 61.5 +/- 13.1% IgM reduction, from 5.5 +/- 1.3 to 2.1 +/- 1 g/100 ml, was obtained in 64 procedures carried out as the only therapy in 12 sessions, with 5.3 procedures requirement per monthly session. IgM percent reduction 24 hours after PE was greater with combined treatment (45 +/- 9.7 vs. 28.9 +/- 15.4%; p = 0.001). The advantage of a combined treatment is therefore either a lowered PE requirement or a tapered maintenance cytostatic dosage.
mesh_terms: D002699:Chlorambucil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D008258:Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D002699:Chlorambucil