Unique association of Waldenström macroglobulinemia with optic neuritis and monoclonal T cell expansion.

[waldenström macroglobulinemia]

Waldenström macroglobulinemia is a lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma characterized by production of the immunoglobulin M (IgM ) monoclonal protein . Commonly involved sites are the bone marrow , lymph nodes , and spleen . Lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of the central nervous system (CNS ), in contrast , is referred to as Bing -Neel syndrome , and is an extremely rare phenomenon . Here , we present a unique case of Waldenström macroglobulinemia with optic neuritis accompanied by monoclonal expansion of T cells , which recovered after administration of CNS-targeting chemotherapy . Although the underlying causal relationships in this case remain obscure , aberrantly expanded T cells may have contributed to the development of optic neuritis , and we should be reminded that some types of cranial neuropathy in Waldenström macroglobulinemia may be reversible .