Intestinal malabsorption in macroglobulinemia

Intestinal lymphangiectasia with protein-losing enteropathy in Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia

Gastrointestinal complications of Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) are unusual but often treatable. We report a case of WM associated with significant gastrointestinal involvement manifest as chronic diarrhea with protein-losing enteropathy and recurrent venous thromboses. Small bowel biopsy was negative for amyloidosis but revealed intestinal lymphangiectasia with deposition of monoclonal IgM. The patient was treated with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone with rapid and complete resolution of the peripheral edema and diarrhea. We follow the case report with a retrospective analysis of patients with WM and gastrointestinal symptoms seen at our institution, and review the available literature on this unusual association. An increased awareness of the gastrointestinal manifestations of WM may help to explain and to treat the chronic, debilitating, and potentially life-threatening symptoms in patients with this lymphoproliferative disorder.

Malignant lymphoma of mucosa associated lymphoid tissue: a new etiology of amyloidosis

Non Hodgkin Malignant lymphomas (NHML) of mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) are known to have multiple involvement of the digestive tract. We report one case, presenting with an infiltrative process of the jejuno-ileum, associating lymphoplasmacytoid proliferating cells and amyloidosis. The plasmacytoid cells expressed Alpha and scarce Mu heavy chains, and lambda light chain. Lympho-epithelial lesions were more obvious at the second site of involvement, in the gastric mucosa. The amyloid substance was negative with the Amyloid A component antibody and gave a background noise with Alpha, Mu and lambda chains. No similar report of amyloidosis associated with MALT NHML has been found in the literature.

Gastric plasmacytoma with cylindrical crystalline inclusions

An 81 year-old female case of extramedullary plasmacytoma of the stomach is reported. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells contained IgM-lambda immunoglobulin. Electron micrographs of the tumor cells showed centrally located nuclei with nuclear inclusions and cytoplasm filled with crystalline inclusions in the rough endoplasmic reticulum. IgM-lambda producing gastric plasmacytoma with cylindrical inclusions is rare.

IgM-producing gastric plasmacytoma

A case of gastric plasmacytoma is reported in an 81-year-old woman. Immunofluorescent and immunoelectrophoretic studies showed that the tumor cells produced IgM-lambda molecules, whereas no monoclonal immunoglobulin could be detected both in the serum and in the urine. Of more than 60 reported cases of gastric plasmacytoma, only a few reports referred to the production of monoclonal immunoglobulin by the tumor cells. This case is the first one of IgM-producing gastric plasmacytoma. Moreover, the produced IgM was found to be 7S-IgM. It is extremely rare that 7S-IgM alone is detected in the absence of 19S-IgM.

Macroglobulinaemia and intestinal lymphangiectasia: a rare association

Two cases in which macroglobulinaemia was associated with intestinal lymphangiectasia are recorded. Immunoperoxidase stains demonstrated a high content of monoclonal IgM in the intestinal lymph. The seven previously recorded examples of this association are reviewed. It is concluded that the concurrence of these two conditions is not merely fortuitous, and that increased viscosity of the lymph consequent on its high IgM content may be important in the pathogenesis of the intestinal lymphangiectasia.

Small-intestine involvement in Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia. Case report and review of the literature

A patient presented with a three-year history of diarrhea and was found to have a monoclonal gammopathy (IgM lambda) and a malabsorption syndrome with dilatation of the small bowel. Small-intestinal biopsy revealed a homogeneous eosinophilic granular material between the epithelial cells. On electron microscopy this material was shown to consist of an electron-opaque background mixed wit radiolucent lipid sheres. Immunofluorescent studies showed the accellular material to consist entirely of IgM-reactive material. The patient's course and a review of the literature is presented.