[Acquired hypogammaglobulinemia and malabsorption with villous atrophy sensitive to a gluten-free diet].

Abstract

The observation of a 21 year-old man with primary common variable hypogammaglobulinemia and total villous atrophy is reported. Gluten withdrawal induced considerable improvement in malabsorption and mucosal damage. However, protein-losing enteropathy, nodular lymphoid hyperplasia and immunoglobulin deficiency were persistent. To our knowledge, improvement on gluten-free diet has been reported until now in 18 previous cases. This report illustrates the links between immunodeficiency and malabsorption, which are discussed.