Selective hypogammaglobulinemia with persistence of IgE, malabsorption and a nutritionally dependent, reversible defect in cell-mediated immunity.

A 46 year old man presented with selective hypogammaglobulinemia, malabsorption and long-standing secondary malnutrition. Although the patient had essentially unmeasurable levels of immunoglobulins G (IgG), M (IgA), he had normal levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE). He was found to be anergic when tested for the delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity reaction. Evaluation of his cell-mediated immunity in vivo and in vitro suggested one discrete lesion, a defective production of the lymphocyte mediator macrophage migration inhibitory factor. With improved nutrition the patient "repaired" this defect in the "efferent" limb of cellular immunity and was no longer anergic.