IFN-alpha as induction and maintenance treatment of patients newly diagnosed with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia

Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia Presenting as Goodpasture's Syndrome

We report a case of Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM) presenting as classic Goodpasture's syndrome. Thrombocytopenia, an additional autoimmune phenomenon, further complicated the clinical course. Renal disease is well recognized in Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia and other B-cell dyscrasias. Similarly, a wide spectrum of autoimmune-mediated conditions has been reported in association with paraproteinemia. However, rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis in association with antiglomerular basement membrane antibodies has never been reported as either an autoimmune or a renal manifestation of WM. This article reviews the current understanding of renal pathology and autoimmune phenomenon associated with WM.