A type of antibody produced by B-cells. IgM is the largest of the five types of antibody, and it helps the body to fight infections.
You may also hear it referred to as
- Monoclonal immunoglobulin M
- IgM paraprotein
- M protein
In people with Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia, the body produces abnormal quantities of IgM, leading to hyperviscosity and symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, confusion and shortness of breath.
The antibodies that B-cells produce to fight infection are made up of proteins. The largest type of protein is called IgM. In people with Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia, the abnormal B-cells – the LPL cells – produce large amounts of abnormal IgM.
You may get symptoms – like headaches, dizziness or shortness of breath – due to the high levels of IgM making your blood thicker (known as hyperviscosity).
People with non-IgM lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL), as opposed to WM, don’t have abnormal levels of IgM. Read more about lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma here.
