ABSTRACT
The plasma cell dyscrasias are characterized by the presence of a monoclonal serum immunoglobulin, bone marrow infiltration with clonally derived plasma cells and/or plasmacytoid lymphocytes, and variable end-organ involvement principally affecting hematopoiesis, the skeletal system, and renal function. A wide spectrum of disorders are included in this category, including Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinema (1) and amyloidosis (2). These diseases range from indolent diseases such as monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance (MGUS) (3) and smoldering myeloma (SM) (4) to plasma cell leukemia, an aggressive, often rapidly fatal disease (5).
