If you have Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia, your body produces too many abnormal white blood cells, which in turn produce too much of a protein called IgM. If the levels of IgM in your body become too high, they can cause your blood to be thicker and become slow moving – this is called hyperviscosity (HVS). HVS can be serious, and is one factor that might prompt your doctor to decide you need to start Treatment for Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia.
What are the symptoms?
Headaches
Dizziness
Confusion
Nosebleeds
Changes in vision (blurred vision, double-vision or blind spots)
How is it diagnosed?
Your doctor will be able to tell if you have HVS by doing a blood test called a plasma viscosity test. This measures the thickness of your blood. If your blood or plasma viscosity levels are very high, you may have already developed some of the symptoms of HVS, so it is important to mention these when talking with your healthcare team.
The levels of IgM in people with HVS differ so if your blood tests show a relatively high level of IgM in your blood, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have developed – or will develop – HVS.
How can it be treated?
Plasma exchange (also called plasmapheresis) is used to treat HVS. This treatment involves your blood being drawn into a machine which removes the plasma from your blood and swaps it with a harmless replacement fluid. It usually takes between 1-3 procedures for your symptoms to reduce and your plasma viscosity to return to a normal level.
Being diagnosed with HVS will prompt your doctor to look into putting you on treatment for your WM, as it indicates that your WM has progressed. Your doctor will discuss your treatment options with you.
