[Antibody deficiency without decrease in the level of serum immunoglobulins].

Abstract

The paper reports the case of a 14 year-old boy, born at full term with intra-uterine growth retardation (1,640 g) who presented with short stature, generalized eczema and recurrent infections. During the first years of life, hypogammaglobulinemia with antibody deficiency occurred. The in vitro T lymphocyte function was normal. The infections have become less severe. The plasma levels of IgA, IgG, IgM and IgE are normal. There is hyperimmunoglobulinemia D. The deficiency of antibodies against most of the tested antigens persists. T and B lymphocyte counts are normal. The in vitro lymphocyte proliferation with Concanavalin A, Phytohemagglutinin, Pokeweed mitogen and Nocardia is normal. The OKT4+ and OKT8+ cell counts are normal. The ratio "helper T cell/suppressive T cell activity" appears to be abnormal. A very prolonged maturation delay, possibly associated with fetal hypotrophy may be hypothesized.