Description:
In the last few years, the clinical significance of rare monoclonal gammopathies that are caused by non-plasmacellular clones or by small plasma cell clones that cause severe organ damage has been fully recognized. Better understanding of mechanisms of disease, new diagnostic tools and novel therapeutic agents tested in ongoing or recently concluded clinical trials can remarkably improve patient management and outcome. Still, these diseases remain difficult to recognize and their treatment is challenging. This educational session will focus on Waldenström macroglobulinemia, light chain amyloidosis, and other monoclonal gammopathies of clinical significance. The session will discuss the diagnostic workup, risk assessment, personalized therapy and monitoring of patients suffering from these diseases in light of the results of recent clinical trials.

Dr. Giovanni Palladini will review the state of the art and recent advancements in the diagnostic workup, staging, and monitoring of patients with light chain (AL) amyloidosis. The results of recent controlled clinical trials and placement of novel therapeutic options in the treatment of newly-diagnosed and relapsed/refractory patients will be discussed.

Dr. Jorge Castillo will review recent advances on the management of patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM), including assessment of risk of progression in patients with asymptomatic WM, indications to treat and how to personalize treatment options based on the patient's clinical features and genomic profile. The results of recent and ongoing clinical trials and the application of these emerging data on patients care will also be discussed.

Dr. Angela Dispenzieri will review the spectrum of monoclonal gammopathies that are of clinical significance (MGCS) including those that cause dermopathy, neuropathy, and/or nephropathy. She will discuss how to rule in or rule out MGCS in a busy clinic and share what is known to date about pathophysiology and management of these rare conditions.