Waldenstrom's macrogloblinaemia: modified plasmapheresis as treatment option in a Nigeria setting.
We describe a case of Waldenströms macroglobulinaemia in a 56 year old Negroid male, to whom modified plasmapheresis/plasma exchange was offered with good control of symptomatic hyperviscosity Amelioration of the clinical status and objective assessment of response was evident by dramatic reduction in monoclonal immunoglobulins M (IgM) from 100g/L to 14.7 g/L and a fall in erythrocyte sedimentation rate from 130 mm/hr to 80 mm/hr with this therapy. This highlights the need to adopt a modification of manual plasmapheresis in the treatment of the hyperviscosity syndrome complicating this B-cell disease in this environment.
Abjah
U M
UM
Department of Haematology, University College Hospital, Ibadan.
Aken'Ova
Y A
YA
Ocheni
S
S
D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D003906:Developing Countries; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D010956:Plasmapheresis / Q000379:methods*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D008258:Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*