Researchers have found a few risk factors that make a person more likely to develop Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM). But most people with these risk factors never develop the disease. Even if a patient with WM does have one or more risk factors, it is impossible to know for sure how much that risk factor contributed to causing the cancer. The following factors may raise a person’s risk of developing Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia:
Age. The risk of Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia increases with age. It occurs most commonly in people older than 60.
Certain Autoimmune Diseases. Some research has suggested that people with certain types of autoimmune disease, such as Sjogren syndrome, might be at higher risk for waldenstrom macroglobulinemia.
Hepatitis C. Some studies have found that people with chronic hepatitis C infection might be more likely to develop waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia than people without the virus. But not all studies have found such a link.
Heredity. Genetic factors may play a role. About 20% of patients with waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia have a close relative with waldenstrom macroglobulinemia or with a related B-cell disease, such as MGUS or certain types of lymphoma or leukemia.
Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS). Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is an abnormality of antibody-making cells that is related to multiple myeloma and waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia. In MGUS, like waldenstrom macroglobulinemia and multiple myeloma, abnormal cells in the bone marrow make large amounts of one particular antibody. This antibody is called a monoclonal (or M) protein, and the condition is called a monoclonal gammopathy. As long as the patient has no problems from the abnormal cells or the M protein they make, it is called MGUS.
Generally, the abnormal cells in MGUS make up less than 10% of the bone marrow and the amount of abnormal M protein in the blood is not very high (less than 3 g/dl). MGUS itself does not cause health problems, but each year about 1% to 2% of people with MGUS go on to develop a related cancer (like multiple myeloma, waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, or lymphoma) or another serious health problem (like amyloidosis).
Race. White people are more likely to develop Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia than black people.
Sex. Men are more likely to develop Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia than women. The reason for this is not known.