Four brothers with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia

Abstract

An exceptional family including four brothers with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia was studied. The four patients had different light chain IgM monoclonal components: two of the kappa type and two of the lambda type. Anti‐idiotypic rabbit antisera, prepared for each monoclonal component, revealed no cross‐reactivity. The four brothers did not share a common HLA A B DR haplotype and a genetic linkage to the HLA complex cannot be ascertained. Five of the 12 relatives had high serum immunoglobulin concentration (four IgG, three IgA, and two IgM) without monoclonal components. Two relatives showed auto‐antibodies at low titer. Some of the youngest relatives exhibited immunological abnormalities and they may be high‐risk subjects with regard to Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia. Copyright © 1989 American Cancer Society