This Study Aims to Clarify the Prevalence and Characteristics of Neuropathy, Along With Associated Paraclinical Findings in Patients With Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia (WM) in a Cohort of WM Patients to Optimize the Diagnostic Process

Condition(s) studied

Study summary

Neuropathy severely reduces patients' quality of life due to sensory loss, chronic neuropathic pain, and loss of mobility of arms and legs. Given the diverse origins of neuropathy, it is critical to identify its specific causes, particularly when effective treatments are available. Neuropathy is a frequent morbidity in Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM), a specific type of lymphoma caused by infiltration of clonal lymphoplasmocytic B cells in the bone marrow with the presence of IgM paraprotein. WM associated neuropathy is largely undescribed. The few existing studies are mostly retrospective indicating the neuropathy has a heterogenic pathophysiology and diverse clinical appearance from mild sensory neuropathy to aggressive with loss of ambulation and development of chronic neuropathic pain within weeks to months.

With treatment of WM the speed of the disease progression including the related neuropathy can be halted. Few studies and clinical experience indicate that the nerve damage induced by WM might remit if treatment is initiated early in the course of the disease. Thus, there is need for timely interventions to reduce chronic disabilities. However, even for an experienced neurologist, it can be difficult to identify whether the neuropathy is caused by WM or other causes where treatment is not indicated.

This project aims to investigate the prevalence and underlying mechanisms of neuropathy in patients with WM to help speed up the diagnostic process and thus help slow down the irreversible nerve damage that these patients experience.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Prevalence of peripheral neuropathy associated to Waldenström Macroglobulinema (WM) — From enrollment from August 2024 and new diagnosed patients with WM and symptoms of neuropathy refered to the neuromuscular clinic until July 2025.
  The prevalence will be calculated by screening WM patients with a questionnaire designed specific for the research project to identify possible peripheral neuropathy. Patients with possible peripheral neuropathy will be clinical examined to either positiv og negative for peripheral neuropathy and confirmed by nerve conduction study. The prevalence will be the amount of patient with polyneuropathy in the population of investigated patientes with WM.

Trial sites (1)

More Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet trials in Denmark

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