[Clinical analysis of 15 patients with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the clinical characteristics of Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) and enhance the level of diagnosis and treatment.


METHODS
The data of 15 patients with WM in our hospital from November 1995 to October 2007 were retrospectively analyzed.


RESULTS
The median age was 68.5 (60 - 79) years, male/female = 2.75/1. Main clinical manifestations were fatigue, loss of weight, splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy. All the patients accepted the treatment of alkylating agents, purine nucleoside analogs, bortezomib or thalidomide respectively. The follow-up period for the patients was 4 months to 10 years and the median follow-up time was 82 months.


CONCLUSIONS
WM may often be seen in old male patients with varied clinical manifestations. The primary treatment is chemotherapy, but the disease is incurable. Bortezomib and thalidomide may improve the therapeutic effect.
Hu
Ying
Y
Department of Hematology and Oncology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100043, China.
Chen
Shi-Lun
SL
Zhong
Yu-Ping
YP
Li
Xin
X
An
Na
N
Zhang
Jia-Jia
JJ
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D008258:Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*
D007075:Immunoglobulin M