Program Description
Plasma cell malignancies are a unique subset of hematologic
malignancies, characterized by syndromes associated both with proliferation of
malignant cells and with paraprotein injury to various organs. Prompt recognition of symptomatic disease and
initiation of therapy can be life-saving, but starting therapy early for
asymptomatic disease confers toxicity without proven benefit. Therefore, the initial workup and management
of these diseases provides an opportunity for improvements in care and is often
overlooked in educational programs that concentrate on the role of novel agents
in treatment.
This webinar provided a brief overview of the initial
diagnosis and management of plasma cell malignancies. Aimed at the practicing hematologist, the
emphasis was on recognition of the possible complications of monoclonal
gammopathies, appropriate diagnostic testing and monitoring over time, and the
general approach to treatment. Given the
emphasis on syndrome identification and initial testing, the discussion was relevant to internists, hospitalists, and general practitioners as
well.
Presentations and Speakers
Initial Workup and Long-term
Follow-up of MGUS and SMM
Speaker: Brendan
Weiss, MD, University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Weiss covered the asymptomatic plasma cell
malignancies, including the appropriate diagnostic workup, identification of
patients at high risk for progression to myeloma, appropriate monitoring
strategies, and evidence regarding treatment. The presentation also covered diagnostic
approaches for assessing whether organ dysfunction is related to the underlying
plasma cell malignancy.
Diagnostic Workup and
Management Approach to Amyloidosis
Speaker: Raymond Comenzo,
MD, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA
Dr. Comenzo presented amyloidosis in general, focusing on
when to consider the diagnosis, the various amyloidosis syndromes, and the
diagnostic approach to the patient with a positive Congo red stain. He also discussed the necessary diagnostic
workup for patients with AL amyloidosis and the general approach to management,
briefly touching as well on principles of therapy for other amyloidosis types.
Odd Complications of Plasma
Cell Malignancies
Speaker: Parameswaran
Hari, MD, Medical College of Wisconsin
Dr. Hari discussed some of the more rare
complications of plasma cell malignancies, such as cryoglobulinemia, light
chain and heavy chain deposition diseases, POEMS syndrome,
paraprotein-associated neuropathy, scleromyxedema, crystal storing
histiocytosis, and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal
immunoglobulin deposition. The focus was on identification of the clinical
syndromes, appropriate diagnostic workup, and general approach to management.
Moderator
Dan Vogl, MD
University of Pennsylvania
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