title: Autoimmune manifestations in patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia.
abstract: Waldenström macroglobulinemia represents a lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma with an indolent clinical course. The existing literature associates this hematologic malignancy with various autoimmune disorders. Notwithstanding, these autoimmune conditions have not been comprehensively characterized or systematized to date. As a result, their clinical implications remain largely unknown. The authors offer a comprehensive review of the existing literature on various hematologic and nonhematologic autoimmune disorders documented in the course of Waldenström macroglobulinemia. Whereas some of them are thought to be secondary to a dysfunctional immune response associated with an underlying malignant process, others might be primary and might even play a role in its pathogenesis. Moreover, the observations that personal history and family history of certain autoimmune diseases were associated with an increased risk of subsequent Waldenström macroglobulinemia strengthen further the hypothesis that shared susceptibility genes and chronic antigenic stimulation might predispose individuals to both conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Connecticut Medical Center, Farmington, CT. Electronic address: Bbockorny@resident.uchc.edu.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bockorny
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Connecticut Medical Center, Farmington, CT.
authors.forename: Jonessa A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Atienza
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology-Oncology, St Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Hartford, CT.
authors.forename: Constantin A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Dasanu
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D010198:Pancytopenia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D015995:Prevalence; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D008258:Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*
keywords: Autoimmune disorder; Autoimmune hemolytic anemia; Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma; Peripheral neuropathy; Rheumatologic diseases