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Gammopathies

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Dermatology

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Abstract

Hypergammaglobulinemia is the pathological increase in serum proteins of the γ-globulin type. There are two basic causes. A monoclonal gammopathy results from the clonal proliferation of a single B cell. The abnormal protein is called M (monoclonal) or paraprotein. The diseases associated with such a clonal proliferation have also been called plasma cell dys-crasias, immunoglobulinopathies or dysproteinemias. In contrast, in a polyclonal gammopathy, a number of different B cells are stimulated, producing a mixture of abnormal proteins. In most instances, a polyclonal gammopathy reflects an associated lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis or Sjögren syndrome. Chronic infections with repeated but variable antigenic stimulation can produce a similar picture. Only a few polyclonal gammopathies are clinically distinct.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Ludwig Maximilians University, Frauenlobstraße 9-11, D-80337, Munich, Germany

    Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c.mult. Otto Braun-Falco (Emeritus Professor and Chairman), Prof. Dr. med. Gerd Plewig (Professor and Chairman) & Walter H. C. Burgdorf M.D. (Clinical Lecturer)

  2. Department of Dermatology and Venerology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, D-23562, Lübeck, Germany

    Prof. Dr. med. Helmut H. Wolff (Professor and Chairman)

Authors
  1. Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c.mult. Otto Braun-Falco
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  2. Prof. Dr. med. Gerd Plewig
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  3. Prof. Dr. med. Helmut H. Wolff
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  4. Walter H. C. Burgdorf M.D.
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© 2000 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Braun-Falco, O., Plewig, G., Wolff, H.H., Burgdorf, W.H.C. (2000). Gammopathies. In: Dermatology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-97931-6_40

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-97931-6_40

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-97933-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-97931-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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