Waldenström's macroglobulinemia medical therapy: Difference between revisions
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===Watchful Waiting=== | ===Watchful Waiting=== | ||
Patients who do not have symptoms and whose cancer does not seem to be progressing often do not need treatment. | Patients who do not have symptoms and whose cancer does not seem to be progressing often do not need treatment. | ||
They can be monitored every 3-6 months - a 'wait and watch approach'.<ref name="BM">Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. Patient (2015)http://patient.info/doctor/waldenstroms-macroglobulinaemia-pro Accessed on November 10, 2015</ref> | |||
===Plasmapheresis=== | ===Plasmapheresis=== | ||
Revision as of 15:26, 11 November 2015
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Waldenström's macroglobulinemia Microchapters |
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Differentiating Waldenström's macroglobulinemia from other Diseases |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Case Studies |
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Waldenström's macroglobulinemia medical therapy On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia medical therapy |
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Directions to Hospitals Treating Waldenström's macroglobulinemia |
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Risk calculators and risk factors for Waldenström's macroglobulinemia medical therapy |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Medical Therapy
There are several different options for Waldenström Macroglobulinemia.[1]
Watchful Waiting
Patients who do not have symptoms and whose cancer does not seem to be progressing often do not need treatment. They can be monitored every 3-6 months - a 'wait and watch approach'.[2]
Plasmapheresis
- Plasmapheresis is recommended in patients with Waldenström Macroglobulinemia who develop hyperviscosity symptoms.
- Plasmapheresis temporarily lowers IgM levels by removing some of the abnormal IgM from the blood, which makes the blood thinner.
- However, plasmapheresis does not affect the lymphoma cells.
- Plasmapheresis is usually given until chemotherapy starts to work.
- Plasmapheresis is combined with chemotherapy to control the disease for a longer period of time.
Chemotherapy
- Patients with Waldenström Macroglobulinemia who symptomatic are started on chemotherapy.
- Drgus:
- chlorambucil or cyclophosphamide, with or without prednisone
- fludarabine or cladribine
Biological therapy
- Rituximab may be used alone or in combination with chemotherapy.
Stem cell transplant
- Stem cell transplant is used in patients whose lymphoma relapses or is not responding to other treatments (refractory).
References
- ↑ Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. Canadian Cancer Society 2015. http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/types-of-nhl/lymphoplasmacytic-lymphoma/?region=ab Accessed on November 6 2015
- ↑ Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. Patient (2015)http://patient.info/doctor/waldenstroms-macroglobulinaemia-pro Accessed on November 10, 2015