National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Multicentric Castleman Disease

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Does the multicentric form of Castleman's disease always cause symptoms?
The signs and symptoms of multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) are often nonspecific and blamed on other, more common conditions. They can vary but may include:[1][2][3]
  • Fever
  • Enlarged lymph nodes
  • Night sweats
  • Loss of appetite and weight loss
  • Weakness and fatigue
  • Shortness of breath
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Enlarged liver or spleen
  • Peripheral neuropathy
  • Skin abnormalities such as rashes and/or pemphigus

Less commonly (<10% of cases), people affected by MCD will have no signs or symptoms of the condition.[2]

Other conditions associated with MCD include amyloidosis, POEMS syndrome, autoimmune disease, hemolytic anemia, and immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).[2]
Last updated: 6/25/2015

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  1. Castleman disease. Mayo Clinic. August 2014; http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/castleman-disease/basics/definition/con-20031703?p=1.
  2. Neetu Radhakrishnan, MD. Castleman Disease. Medscape Reference. January 2015; http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2219018-overview.
  3. Jon C Aster, MD; Jennifer R Brown, MD, PhD; Nikhil C Munshi, MD. Multicentric Castleman's disease. UpToDate. January 2015; Accessed 6/25/2015.