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In WM, some
of the body's white blood cells, known as B lymphocytes, become abnormal
and live on past the time when a normal cell would die. As a result they
accumulate in the body, crowding the bone marrow, lymph nodes, and spleen,
and producing an excess of an antibody called IgM. This excess IgM can
cause the blood to thicken, which is known as hyperviscosity. Meanwhile,
the build-up of B lymphocytes in the bone marrow impairs the production
of both red and white blood cells, as well as platelets that help the
blood to clot. The result is anemia, infections, bleeding and, if left
untreated, eventually death.
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