Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia associated with AA amyloidosis

It is widely accepted that amyloidosis in Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia ( WM) is exclusively due to amyloid light-chain deposition. However, only a s mall number of previous reports have actually characterized the type of amy loid in WM. We now report the third patient with WM and amyloid A protein ( AA) amyloidosis. This patient developed malabsorption, nephrotic syndrome, and orthostatic hypotension. AA was immunohistochemically demonstrated in t he rectal biopsy. In conjunction with previous examples of AA amyloidosis, the present report raises the possibility that AA amyloidosis may also occu r in WM patients. (C) 2001 The Japanese Society of Hematology.