Symptoms and Diagnosis Many people who have macroglobulinemia have no symptoms. The thickened blood also may aggravate heart conditions and cause increased pressure in the brain. Tiny blood vessels in the back of the eyes can become engorged and may bleed, resulting in damage to the retina and impaired eyesight. People who have macroglobulinemia may also have swollen lymph nodes, rashes, an enlarged liver and spleen, recurring bacterial infections, and anemia. People who have cryoglobulinemia may become very sensitive to cold or develop Raynaud's phenomenon, in which the hands and feet become very painful and turn white when they're exposed to cold.
Blood tests detect abnormalities in people who have macroglobulinemia.
Blood clotting test results may be abnormal, and other tests may detect cryoglobulins. But the most useful diagnostic tests are serum protein electrophoresis and immunoelectrophoresis, which detect the large quantity of abnormal macroglobulins in a blood sample. A bone marrow biopsy, in which a sample of marrow is obtained with a needle and syringe and examined under a microscope, may reveal an increased number of lymphocytes and plasma cells, which helps confirm the diagnosis. The course of the disorder varies from person to person. Even without treatment, many people survive for 5 years or more.