Hypogammaglobulinemia with lymphoid nodular hyperplasia of the small bowel: endoscopic diagnosis of one case.

A 37-year-old man suffering from abdominal pain and diarrhea, was hospitalized because of abdominal discomfort. Gastroduodenal series showed multiple duodenal filling defects. Gastroduodenoscopic examination revealed numerous nodular lesions in the duodenum and biopsy specimen demonstrated nodular lymphoid hyperplasia. The serum immunoelectrophoretic pattern showed a virtual absence of IgA and IgM and a very decreased level of IgG. To our knowledge, it is the first case of hypogammaglobulinaemia with nodular hyperplasia of the small bowel, diagnosed by endoscopy and forceps biopsy.