Hypogammaglobulinemia-associated gastrointestinal disease--a case series

Indian J Gastroenterol. 2014 Nov;33(6):560-3. doi: 10.1007/s12664-014-0514-7. Epub 2014 Oct 30.

Abstract

Hypogammaglobulinemia, a form of primary immunodeficiency, is an uncommon condition. Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms may be the only presentation. A series of 22 patients who presented with GI symptoms and were diagnosed with hypogammaglobulinemia is presented. Chronic diarrhea was the presentation in majority (90.9 %) of patients. Malabsorption was identified in 87.5 % of patients followed by weight loss (59.0 %), abdominal pain (27.2 %), and oral ulcers (4.5 %). The median duration of symptoms prior to diagnosis was 4 years, range being 6 months to 23 years. Evaluation revealed opportunistic infections including Giardia lamblia in 31.8 % and Cryptosporidium parvum, Isospora belli, Cytomegalovirus and Aeromonas in 4.5 % each. Serum globulins were low in all patients. Duodenal biopsy showed paucity of plasma cells in 45 %, villous atrophy in 35 % and nodular lymphoid hyperplasia in 30 % patients. Though uncommon, hypogammaglobulinemia is associated with GI disease. The possibility of a primary immunodeficiency should be considered in patients presenting with GI symptoms and low serum globulin.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Pain / etiology
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Agammaglobulinemia / complications*
  • Agammaglobulinemia / diagnosis
  • Child
  • Diarrhea / etiology
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Malabsorption Syndromes / etiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Serum Globulins / analysis
  • Weight Loss
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Serum Globulins