An unusual reoccurrence of Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia as pleural effusions that had a discordant response with treatment.
A 77-year-old female with a past medical history of Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia presented with progressive shortness of breath and a newly diagnosed left pleural effusion. Numerous diagnostic studies were performed on the patient and finally a pleural biopsy confirmed pulmonary involvement of Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia. As past studies have shown, Waldenstrom's involvement as a pulmonary process is uncommon. Unexpectedly, treatment with rituximab and fludarabine did decrease the patient's serum immunoglobulin M levels, but her pleural effusions never improved.
Amin
C J
CJ
Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA. camin@salud.unm.edu
Rabinowitz
I
I
D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012008:Recurrence; D000069283:Rituximab; D014740:Vidarabine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008258:Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D000069283:Rituximab; D014740:Vidarabine; C024352:fludarabine