Simplified risk stratification model for patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia

Patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) have disparate outcomes. Since the development of the International Prognostic Scoring System, new therapies have emerged and MYD88^L265P mutation is now frequently assessed at diagnosis, warranting reexamination of prognostic parameters. A multinational consortium developed the Modified Staging System (MSS)-WM. Age (66-75 years and > 75 years), serum albumin, and serum lactate dehydrogenase at diagnosis can reliably risk-stratify patients with active WM into four risk groups with distinct outcomes. MSS-WM was successfully validated in US and European patients. The authors conclude that MSS-WM allows prognostication without genotyping, better differentiates the high- and intermediate-risk cohorts from the low/low-intermediate risk groups than the currently used IPSS, and can be easily used in clinical practice.