Rearrangement of immunoglobulin gene in metastatic waldenström macroglobulinemia to the vitreous

• Published in: American journal of ophthalmology 2000-03, Vol.129 (3), p.395-396
• Main Authors: Shen, De Fen, Fardeau, Christine, Roberge, Francois G, LeHoang, Phuc, Chan, Chi-Chao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: B-Lymphocytes - pathology; Biological and medical sciences; DNA - analysis; Eye Diseases - diagnosis; Eye Diseases - genetics; Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte, Heavy Chain; Genes, Immunoglobulin - genetics; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Ophthalmology; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Tumors and pseudotumors of the eye, orbit, eyelid, lacrimal apparatus; Vitrectomy; Vitreous Body - pathology; Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia - diagnosis; Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia - genetics
• ISSN: 0002-9394; 1879-1891
• DOI: 10.1016/S0002-9394(99)00383-9

PURPOSE: To report metastatic Waldenström macroglobulinemia cells with immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement in the vitreous and the blood. METHODS: A 58-year-old man with Waldenström macroglobulinemia developed bilateral vitreitis. Diagnostic vitrectomy was performed on the left eye. The vitreous cells and the peripheral blood lymphocytes were analyzed using microdissection and polymerase chain reaction amplification. RESULTS: Vitrectomy specimen of the left eye contained a few degenerated cells. Molecular analysis showed immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement at the third complementary determining region of the vitreal infiltrating cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Waldenström macroglobulinemia rarely metastasizes to the vitreous. Molecular detection of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene third complementary determining region rearrangement is helpful in the diagnosis of the malignancy. Microdissection combined with polymerase chain reaction is a useful and innovative tool for molecular pathological investigation.