Definition
Elevated serum levels of immunoglobulin and pronounced antibody responses may be seen with infection and inflammation. This is thought to be an effect of B cell activation producing antibodies that are not associated with the accompanying infection or disease. Infections often associated with hypergammaglobulinemia include the acquired immunodefiency syndrome (AIDS), endocarditis, mononucleosis, syphilis, and parasitic infection. Disease states associated with hypergammaglobulinemia include chronic diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE), cystic fibrosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Polyclonal gammopathies related to an infection are usually not involved in the disease process itself, and is not pathologic.
The mechanism of hypergammaglobulinemia in patients with Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is thought to be caused by CD70 expression, which stimulates memory B cell production and differentiation into plasma cells, which then results in elevated serum...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Heinzel FP (2000) Antibodies. In: Mandell GL, et al (eds) Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 5th ed. Churchill Livingstone, St. Louis
Nagase H, Agematsu K, Kitano K, Takamoto M, Okubo Y, Komiyama A, Sugane K (2001) Mechanism of hypergammaglobulinemia by HIV infection: circulating memory B-cell reduction with plasmacytosis. Clin Immunol 100(2):250–9
Notermans DW, de Jong JJ, Goudsmit J, et al (2001) Potent antiretroviral therapy initiates normalization of hypergammaglobulinemia and a decline in HIV type 1-specific antibody responses. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 17(11):1003–8
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2004 Springer-Verlag
About this entry
Cite this entry
(2004). Hypergammaglobulinemia. In: Moreland, L.W. (eds) Rheumatology and Immunology Therapy. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-29662-X_1285
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-29662-X_1285
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-20625-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-29662-1
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive