Symptoms:

• Bleeding of the gums
• Blurred or decreased vision
• Dizziness
• Easy bruising of the skin
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Mental status changes
• Nosebleeds
• Numbness, tingling, or burning pain in the hands, feet, fingers, toes, ears, or nose
• Rash
• Unintentional weight loss
• Vision loss in one eye

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• Bluish skin discoloration
• Fingers that change color upon pressure
• Flank pain
• Swollen glands

Signs and tests:

A physical examination may reveal a swollen spleen, liver, and lymph nodes. An eye exam may show enlarged veins in the retina or retinal bleeding (hemorrhages).

A CBC shows a low number of red blood cells and platelets. A blood chemistry shows evidence of kidney disease. A serum viscosity test can tell if the blood has become thick. Symptoms usually occur when the blood is four times thicker than normal.

A test called serum protein electrophoresis shows an increased amount of the IgM antibody. Levels seen in Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia are generally greater than 3 g/dL.

Bone lesions are very rare. If they are present, a bone marrow examination will show cells that resemble both lymphocytes and plasma cells.

Additional tests that may be done:

• 24-hour urine protein
• Total protein
• Serum globulin electrophoresis
• Immunofixation in urine
• T (thymus derived) lymphocyte count