A case of Waldenstroem's disease with a monoclonal IgM antiphospholipid antibody

Rheumatol Int. 2002 Jul;22(3):129-31. doi: 10.1007/s00296-002-0206-y. Epub 2002 Jun 13.

Abstract

The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) was described in 1983 as a clinical entity characterized by venous and arterial thrombosis, thrombocytopenia, and recurrent fetal loss. The serological markers of APS are antiphospholipid antibodies (APLA) directed mainly against anionic phospholipids, usually cardiolipin but also phosphatidylserine. Some APLA exhibit lupus anticoagulant activity. Monoclonal gammopathy sometimes occurs with the presence of autoantibodies. In this paper, we describe a patient with the diagnosis of immunocytoma with an IgM, kappa paraprotein with apparent specificity against anionic phospholipids, and lupus anticoagulant activity, but no clinical signs of APS. We describe in this patient the presence of a high titer of monoclonal APLA, which does apparently not induce the clinical symptoms of APS. This might be indicative for the presence of pathogenic and nonpathogenic antiphospholipid antibodies.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / immunology*
  • Female
  • Glycoproteins / blood
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin M / analysis
  • Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / blood
  • Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor / blood
  • Middle Aged
  • Paraproteins / metabolism
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia / blood
  • Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia / immunology*
  • beta 2-Glycoprotein I

Substances

  • Antibodies, Antiphospholipid
  • Glycoproteins
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains
  • Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor
  • Paraproteins
  • beta 2-Glycoprotein I