A suppressor T-cell defect in tropical splenomegaly syndrome.
Serum-IgM is always abnormally high in tropical splenomegaly syndrome. It is postulated that patients with this disease have an abnormal immunoglobulin response to malaria because they lack effective T suppressor cells. This defect may be genetically determined, thus explaining the tribal and familial aggregation of the disease. Hypermacroglobulinaemia is associated with the formation of large amounts of high-molecular-weight immune complexes. These complexes are important in the pathogenesis of the clinical features of the syndrome.
D000917:Antibody Formation; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D006801:Humans; D007105:Immune Complex Diseases / Q000150:complications; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000276:immunology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008218:Lymphocytosis / Q000276:immunology*; D008288:Malaria / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D013577:Syndrome; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007136:Immunoglobulins