Immunoglobulin heavy chain sequence analysis in Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia and immunoglobulin M monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance.

In this study, we used IGH sequence analysis to assess the maturational status of Waldenstrom's (WM) macroglobulinemia and its putative precursor immunoglobulin (Ig)-M monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). IGH sequence analysis was performed using standard methods in 23 cases (20 WM and 3 IgM MGUS as defined by consensus panel criteria). Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia cases were characterized by heavily mutated IGH genes (median, 6.