Waldenström macroglobulinemia and relationship to immune deficiency

Leuk Lymphoma. 2021 Nov;62(11):2665-2670. doi: 10.1080/10428194.2021.1907379. Epub 2021 Jun 4.

Abstract

Primary or secondary immune deficiency (ID) is a risk factor, although rare, to develop Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM). We aimed to better understand the incidence of this occurrence in the real-life and the outcome of either entity. We conducted a review of 194 WM in the Poitou-Charentes registry and identified 7 (3.6%) with a prior history of ID. Across the 7 WM with ID, 4 progressed to active WM disease and required treatment for WM with a median time between WM diagnosis and the first treatment of 1.5 years (range 0-3). The median time from ID to WM occurrence was 8 years (1-18). WM could develop from ID, although a rare event. Our first action was to systematically decrease immunosuppression with long-term control of ID. Half of indolent WM remained indolent despite ID and for remaining WM none appeared of poor risk WM.

Keywords: Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia; immune deficiency; immunosuppression; real-life experience; relationship.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes*
  • Incidence
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell*
  • Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia* / diagnosis
  • Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia* / epidemiology