Thymoma and hypogammaglobulinaemia with and without T suppressor cells.
Patients with acquired hypogammaglobulinaemia usually have near normal numbers of B cells and normal T cell function. When hypogammaglobulinaemia occurs in association with thymoma, then B cell numbers have been reported as low, and distinctive T cells are present which inhibit immunoglobulin production by normal cells. It has been suggested that these T cells are responsible for the observed hypogammaglobulinaemia. We report a patient with thymoma and hypogammaglobulinaemia who lacks these distinctive suppressor cells and has normal B cell numbers. It is therefore incorrect to propose a single pathogenic mechanism for hypogammaglobulinaemia in association with thymoma.
D000361:Agammaglobulinemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D000368:Aged; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D013945:Thymoma / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*
D007136:Immunoglobulins