1. A New Case of Gamma-Heavy Chain Disease
- Author
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S Schwartz, L Cortez, M T Gallart, J Canals, E Cañadell, and A Moragas
- Subjects
Adult ,Pathology ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Immunoglobulin gamma-Chains ,Hepatosplenomegaly ,Lymphopenia ,Biopsy ,medicine ,Humans ,Lymphatic Diseases ,Lymph node ,Gamma Heavy Chain Disease ,Proteinuria ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,business.industry ,Hematology ,General Medicine ,medicine.disease ,Lymphatic disease ,Heavy chain disease ,Molecular Weight ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Splenomegaly ,Female ,Lymph ,medicine.symptom ,Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains ,business ,Heavy Chain Disease ,Hepatomegaly - Abstract
The first case of gamma-heavy chain disease described in Spain is here reported. The patient, a 36-year-old woman, presented fever, enlarged regional lymph nodes, and hepatosplenomegaly, without bone marrow abnormalities but with lymphopenia. Serum electrophoresis did not disclose any M-component. The abnormal gamma-chain protein had a alpha2-globulin mobility and was immunochemically related to the Fc fragment. It belonged to the IgG 4 subclass, its molecular weight was about 60,000. Proteinuria was minimal but the electrophoresis of concentrated urine showed a homogeneous peak of alpha2-globulin mobility constituted by the gamma-chain fragment. Biopsy of an axillary lymph node disclosed features of immunoblastic sarcoma. The course was malignant, resulting in death in 8 months.
- Published
- 1978
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