WaldenströM's Macroglobu... Health Article

ORGANIZATIONS

Cure for Lymphoma Foundation. 215 Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10016. (212) 213-9595. (800)-CFL-6848. infocfl@cfl.org. <http://www.cfl.org/home.html>. An advocacy organization; education and support programs, research grants, information on clinical trials for Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

International Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia Foundation. 2300 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, FL 34239-6226. (941) 927-IWMF. <http://www.iwmf.com>. Information, educational programs, support for patients and families, research support.

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. 600 Third Ave., New York, NY 10016. (800) 955-4572. (914) 949-5213. <http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org>. Information, support, and guidance for patients and health care professionals.

The Lymphoma Research Foundation of America, Inc. 8800 Venice Boulevard, Suite 207, Los Angeles, CA 90034.(310) 204-7040). <http://www.lymphoma.org>. Research into treatments for lymphoma; educational and emotional support programs for patients and families.

OTHER

Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Leukemia, Lymphoma, Hodgkin's Disease and Myeloma. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. 27 Mar. 2001. 28 June 2001. <http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org>.

"Macroglobulinemia of Waldenstrom." Web MD. 1999. 14 Apr. 2001. 28 June 2001. <http://my.webmd.com/content/asset/adam_disease_macroglobulinemia-primary>.

McKusick, Victor A. "Macroglobulinemia, Waldenstrom; WM." Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man. John Hopkins University. 28 Dec. 1999. 28 June 2001. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/dispomim.cgi?id=153600>.

"Multiple Myeloma and Other Plasma CellNeoplasms." CancerNet. National Cancer Institute. Mar. 2001. 28 June2001. <http://cancernet.nci.nih.gov>.

"Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma." Cancer Resource Center. American Cancer Society. 20 Dec 1998. 28 June 2001. <http://www3.cancer.org/cancerinfo/load_cont.asp?ct=32&st=wi>.

Waldenstroms.com. International Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia Foundation. 28 June 2001. <http://www.iwmf.com>.

J. Ricker Polsdorfer

Margaret Alic, Ph.D.

KEY TERMS

Anemia—Any condition in which the red blood cell count is below normal.

Antibody—Immunoglobulin produced by immune system cells that recognizes and binds to a specific foreign substance (antigen).

Antigen—Foreign substance that is recognized by a specific antibody.

Autosomal dominant—Genetic trait that is expressed when present on only one of a pair of non-sex-linked chromosomes.

B cell (B lymphocyte)—Type of white blood cell that produces antibodies.

Bence-Jones protein—Light chain of an immunoglobulin that may be overproduced in Walden-strom's macroglobulinemia; it is excreted in the urine.

Biopsy—Removal of a small sample of tissue for examination under a microscope; used in the diagnosis of cancer.

Cryoglobulinemia—Condition in which protein in the blood forms particles in the cold, blocking blood vessels and leading to pain and numbness of the extremities.

Hyperviscosity—Thick, viscous blood, caused by the accumulation of large proteins, such as immunoglobulins, in the serum.

Immunoelectrophoresis—Use of an electrical field to separate proteins in a mixture (such as blood or urine), on the basis of the size and electrical charge of the proteins; followed by the detection of an antigen (such as IgM), using a specific antibody.

Immunoglobulin (Ig)—Antibody such as IgM; large protein produced by B cells that recognizes and binds to a specific antigen.

Interferon alpha—Potent immune-defense protein; used as an anti-cancer drug.

Lymphatic system—The vessels, lymph nodes, and organs, including the bone marrow, spleen, and thymus, that produce and carry white blood cells to fight disease.

Lymphoma—Cancer that originates in lymphatic tissue.

M protein—Monoclonal or myeloma protein; IgM that is overproduced in Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia and accumulates in the blood and urine.

Monoclonal—Identical cells or proteins; cells (clones) derived from a single, genetically-distinct cell, or proteins produced by these cells.

Plasma cell—Type of white blood cell that produces antibodies; derived from an antigen-specific B cell.

Plasmapheresis—Plasma exchange transfusion; the separation of serum from blood cells to treat hyper-viscosity of the blood.

Platelet—Cell that is involved in blood clotting.

Stem cell—Undifferentiated cell that retains the ability to develop into any one of numerous cell types.