A case of agammaglobulinemia characterized by a defect of B-lymphocyte-differentiation to plasma cells

Humoral and cell-mediated immune reactions of a 36-year old patient with a late onset of an agammaglobulinaemia and of his immediate relatives have been investigated. The immunoglobulins gamma-G, gamma-A, gamma-M, gamma-E and gamma-D, and plasma cells in the bone marrow could not be detected in the patient's serum. Immune reactions with PPD and tetanus toxoid as well as the stimulation of the lymphocytes with PHA indicate that the T-cell system was intact. The examination of the peripheral blood lymphocytes by immunofluorescence techniques gave a normal number of B-lymphocytes. These findings could be corroborated by the results of lymphocyte stimulations with anti-IgG. The data suggest tha…