Fall 2007 - International Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia ...

TREASURER’S REPORT
AS OF JUNE 30, 2007
James Bunton, Treasurer
The finances of IWMF are operated through two separate
funds: the Research Fund and the Operating Fund.
Research Clinical Highlights, cont from page 7
International Workshop on WM (Athens, 2002) recognized
that the sole parameter distinguishing SWM from IgM-MGUS
is the presence, established by microscopic examination, of
lymphoplasmacytic non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cells in the
bone marrow.
PAGE 8
The Research Fund accounts for all contributions received
for research and is charged only for funds to be expended on
approved research projects.
The Operating Fund accounts for contributions from
members that are not designated as being for research, such
as membership contributions. This fund is charged with all
member services expenses and all operating expenses (none
of which are charged to the Research Fund).
Following is a summary of the financial results for its first
six months of 2007:
Research Operating Total
Income $323,000 $128,000 $451,000
Expenses 275,000 275,000
Net Income or
(loss) $323,000 ($147,000) $176,000
Income in the Research Fund was very encouraging in
the first half of the year as a result of some significant
contributions, especially from our pledge contributors. No
research projects were approved in the first half of the year.
As a result the fund had no expenses and the net income
in the Research Fund was equal to the gross income for
the period. The research award approved in August to Dr.
Braggio at Mayo, mentioned elsewhere in this issue, will be
an expense of the last half of the year.
Unfortunately, the results in the Operating Fund are quite
different. Expenses for the first six months were very high,
increasing $100,000 over the same period last year. The
major increases in cost this year were the Educational Forum,
fundraising, and especially the printing costs and related
postage of three new major booklets for WM members. While
the resulting net loss of $147,000 is cause for concern, we
should keep in mind that our annual membership campaign
is held in the last few months of year. That is when a large
share of our members’ contributions to the Operating Fund
are received.
In the next few weeks you will be receiving a letter asking
you to make a membership donation. Please consider our
current net loss situation and try to increase your donation
to a higher level than in the past. IWMF needs a healthy
Operating Fund to continue its current member services and
add new ones to assist our members.
Dr. Morra’s more recent study evaluated the prognosis for
patients with IgM-MGUS versus patients with SWM. She
noted that IgM-MGUS patients have a slight overall survival
advantage compared to SWM patients but noted as well
that SWM patients have a mortality rate equivalent with
that of the general population. Risk factors for evolution
of IgM-MGUS into WM or evolution of SWM into active
WM were generally comparable. Increasing levels of IgM,
detection of protein in the urine, decreased levels of IgG
and/or IgA, anemia and other red blood cell abnormalities,
elevated ß2-microglobulin, and other irregularities could
predict evolution into more aggressive disease. Dr. Morra
concluded that IgM-MGUS may be considered as the first
step of an indolent lymphoproliferative disease and as such
recommended periodic bone marrow biopsy evaluations as
well as the requisite blood tests.
Dr. Pierre Morel of France expanded on the role of prognostic
factors in WM. He reported on an International Prognostic
Scoring System for Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia
developed by a number of cooperative groups and institutions.
Review of patient records, essentially retrospective analyses,
identified several risk factors that were consistently associated
with a poor clinical outcome. The combination of advanced
age, IgM levels, low hemoglobin concentration, low platelet
count, low serum albumin concentration and an elevated
serum ß2-microglobulin provides a simple prognostic model
for survival in WM.
Part 2 of this article will be presented in the winter edition
of the Torch.
have your say
The Torch welcomes letters, articles or
suggestions for articles.
If you have something you'd like to share with
your fellow WMers, please contact
Don Lindemann at 510-848-4069 or
torcheditor@gmail.com