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. 1976 Oct;26(1):124–128.

Alpha-chain disease and its association with intestinal lymphoma.

A Kharazmi, P Haghighi, M Haghshenas, K Nasr, P Abadi, H R Rezai
PMCID: PMC1540810  PMID: 826361

Abstract

Twenty-seven intestinal lymphoma patients were studied. Abnormal alpha-chain immunoglobulin was detected in the sera of seven of these patients. The alpha-chain disease patients were from the rural areas of Southern Iran. They were of low socio-economic status and their age ranged from 15-44 years. Predominant clinical features were malabsorption, diarrhoea , abdominal pain, vomiting, and weight loss. Infiltration of mucosa of the small intestine with plasma cells and also distortion and flattening of the villi were common histopathologic characteristics of these patients. Involvement of mesenteric lymph nodes with infiltration of tumour cells was observed in a number of cases. Protein studies revealed no significant differences between the serum immunoglobulin levels of these patients and normal values. Immunoelectrophoresis using monospecific antiserum against H-chain of human IgA demonstrated the abnormal precipitin band of alpha-chain disease protein.

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Selected References

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